The Chairman of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, Vessela Lecheva, congratulated Bulgarian Olympians and figures on the 103rd anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and made a proposal for resolving the institutional and management crisis in the organization.
Here is Lecheva's entire address:
"Today we celebrate 103 years since the establishment of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. The BOC is one of the pioneers in the Olympic movement in Europe. Although Bulgaria participated in the first modern games in 1896, the official establishment of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee took place on March 30, 1923 and was aimed at preparing for Paris 1924.
Bulgaria has a total of 231 medals from Olympic Games (summer and winter). As a two-time Olympic medalist, but also in my role as elected BOC President, I was fortunate to experience the last two medals for our country at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, won by Tervel Zamfirov and Lora Hristova. They were also the first for Bulgaria at the Winter Games in 20 years.
Over these more than 100 years, the history of the BOC has been associated with both legendary athletes and their achievements, as well as with the leaders of our Olympic movement - Eftim Kitanchev, Dimitar Stanchov, Velizar Lazarov, Rashko Atanasov, Gen. Vladimir Stoychev, Ivan Slavkov, Stefka Kostadinova.
Today I am making a proposal to resolve the institutional crisis in which the BOC finds itself. It is in connection with the stated intention of Ms. Stefka Kostadinova to be deleted from the Commercial Register as representing the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) and a candidate for deputy, and is based on three main points:
1. Respecting the will of the BOC General Assembly, held on March 19, 2025, at which Vessela Lecheva was elected as the new President (with 48 votes) and a new Executive Bureau with the participation of 83 out of a total of 86 members of the Association.
2. Compliance with the determinations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) of May 17, 2025, which are in force until the final resolution of the legal disputes. ("Ms. Lecheva and the newly elected BOC leadership will be the only persons entitled to represent the BOC before the IOC, within the Olympic movement and at all IOC-recognized events and games. We trust that these legal formalities will be carried out in full harmony, with common sense and in good faith, so that the newly elected BOC leadership can begin work without further delay, in the best interests of the BOC and the Bulgarian athletes".) With the cited definition, the name of the newly elected BOC President, the newly elected Executive Bureau and the newly elected Secretary General were recorded in all registers. They are also the only officials who represent the BOC in all IOC, EOC, ANOC and Olympic movement events.
3. Compliance with Art. 41, para. 4 of the BOC Statute, on the basis of which Ms. Stefka Kostadinova submitted her resignation to the Registry Agency.
I propose, on the basis of Article 41, para. 4 of the BOC Statute, that a Vice-President be elected as the interim President of the BOC with the express condition that a written power of attorney be granted to Vessela Lecheva in view of the results of the General Assembly of March 19, 2025, in view of the IOC's opinion of May 17, 2025 and in view of the refusals to conduct the case by the plaintiffs, with which the Bulgarian Olympic Committee will manage until the conclusion of the pending legal disputes. This is the only possible solution that will also comply with the International Olympic Committee's rulings.
I appeal to the claimants who have not yet withdrawn their claims, as they were also called upon to do by Ms. Stefka Kostadinova, to do so.
The Bulgarian Olympic Committee cannot continue to exist in a legal, managerial and institutional vacuum. A number of events from the international Olympic calendar are coming up for which there is no preparation, budget and funding.
I believe that the current situation is unprecedented and we must take decisive steps together to put an end to the crisis that has been going on for a year. I believe that Ms. Kostadinova, as a great athlete who has managed the most respected sports organization for 20 years, will find a way out of the situation, and we will both be able to protect the trust given to us by the sports organizations in a spirit of dialogue and understanding."