What are the debts of the weightlifting federation and will it be saved? Stefan Botev to FACTI

The Sofia City Court postponed the bankruptcy of the weightlifting federation, requested by the previous leadership in the person of Anton Kodjabashev, for a month. The court gave the new president of the federation, Stefan Botev, until the end of January to present a plan for repaying the debts. What is the state of the federation…. Stefan Botev speaks to FACTI.

- Mr. Botev, we saw another unique achievement by Carlos Nassar at the world championship in Bahrain. Are these records of his that he is setting somehow in defiance of what is happening in the federation…
- We can, of course, congratulate ourselves on this excellent performance. It's not just for Nassar, it's for Bulgaria, for Europe, because the Asians are already putting a lot of pressure on us. So his achievements and everything he does is great. And this is indicative that the bars in our country are still at a very high level. Despite all these problems surrounding the federation.

- Once again, it was seen that Carlos Nassar has no competition in the category. What qualities does he have that surpass them?
- Everything is very complex. Carlos is simply a great class, a talent. If we add to this his mentality, courage, strength - all the qualities that he possesses, we see all of this on the podium.

- European, Olympic and world champion. Few Bulgarians have done it...
- Yes, few Bulgarians have done it, but you know that years ago there was no world championship in a year when there was an Olympics. And the Olympic champion was also recognized as a world champion. Yes, we have had very serious Bulgarians before with very great achievements, with many titles. Simply because there was no World Championship in an Olympic year, there were no such three great successes. But there is something else. In a year when there was a European and Olympic Games, a World Cup was held. Back then, this World Cup was equated to a world championship. So we have had many achievements. Bulgaria has always had strong people in the bars, but we have forgotten them a little because many years have passed. Modernity is a little different today. It is much more difficult to find such talents in this tough sport.

- We have reasons to be happy when we watch Carlos Nassar, but do you have reasons to be happy as the new president of the weightlifting federation in your work…
- Look, the other boys and girls who prepared for the world championships, and they made quite good achievements considering the situation in which the Bulgarian bars are. They did everything possible to have a good ranking and they achieved it.

- What did you inherit in the federation. Let's go into the deep waters of your work as the new president?
- The federation has big debts. So the main thing is to find financing to repay the debts. If this is not done by the end of January, the federation will have its license revoked and it will cease to exist.

- How will this reflect on the liabilities…
- The liabilities currently amount to 630,000 leva. I expect to be told about another debt of around 60-70,000 leva this week. The amount is large, because the federation's debts amount to around 700,000 leva.

- If the federation declares bankruptcy, what happens to the liabilities…
- This liability goes with the old federation and it ends. No one will take a single leva. Whoever has to take money will drink cold water and that's it.

- But if there is a new federation, there will be no funding for one year…
- That's according to the law, but let's not rush. If this federation doesn't get better, there will be no funding for the new one year. The competitors will not participate in major championships next year and we will not receive funds. The work is very hard and serious.

- What do you say to competitors because you have had a meeting with them: “Look, boys and girls - there is no money. You will not receive anything…“
- I tell them what it is. Most of them think because they have been told that things will get better, that there is no problem, that a sum of 100,000 leva will be brought in so that everything can be paid for. This is simply not true, because there is no signed contract from last year for this year's funding. Things are clear. They can't hope to get anything. The Olympic competitors who were preparing for the Games in Paris will receive money until the end of the year. The other participants from the world championships who were there will receive money from September until the end of the year. That's it. Receiving salaries for next year now all depends on how things will develop with the federation. Everything will be clear in January.

- How are the people in the new leadership of the federation that you work with helping?
- We hear from each other, we see each other, we talk. Anyone who can help is welcome. All I'm doing right now is looking for funding. I'm talking to people from the business world, I'm meeting with members of parliament in the Sports Committee, I'm also talking to the Minister of Sports. Options are being considered so that we can cope and pay out money. For me, perhaps the most important thing is that the state must intervene here and cover some obligations. It's very difficult for businesses to give money these days.

- The biggest obligations are to...
- To the ministry and one company.

- To the NRA?
- We've already settled the debts to the NRA. 145,000 have been paid, about 6,000 leva remain, which are owed, but that's not a problem. They can be paid tomorrow, as they say. There is a large payment to the Ministry of Sports - about 350,000 leva. Separately, there is 180,000 leva to a company.

- The debt to the company is money for implemented camps…
- Exactly. There are also small amounts, but when you add everything up - the amount becomes large.

- How do the clubs in the country perceive the situation?
- We talk, they call each other and hope that things will get better. Everyone calls and prays that we don't die. They see some hope in me and hope that I will fix things. That's why I have put in a lot of effort and left everything around me aside, including my business. I only work for the federation and God forbid one day all this will have an effect, all this work.

- How do the athletes see the national team next year?
- They know what the situation is. Today, now, no one can say anything - neither about camps nor salaries, because it is simply not known what will happen to the federation. If it ceases to exist, there is nothing to talk about. If everything is normal and we are saved, we will start training, centralized camps, recovery, paying attention to the young - cadets, juniors, young people, and so on. The wheel is turning. We have very serious plans.

- How was the new coach Yanko Georgiev received by the athletes...
- He has not yet entered the hall to talk to them and let them see him. The new coach... He enters the hall and starts working. They have to adapt and work, that's it.