The elected BOK chairperson Vessela Lecheva was a guest on bTV from her native Veliko Tarnovo on the Day of Bulgarian Sports – May 17. She congratulated the Bulgarian athletes on their holiday and commented on current topics related to the BOK.
„Happy holiday to all participants in the sports movement in Bulgaria. In 2006, I proposed to the Council of Ministers that Bulgaria have its own national sports holiday. Today I want to congratulate all the athletes on their holiday and remind them that there is no greater and more important mission than to educate a young and educated generation“, said Lecheva.
“I wanted to concentrate on the successes and the upcoming tasks, but, unfortunately, we have been talking about the BOC General Assembly for two months now. Let's get back to the facts - I was elected with 48 to 33 votes, without complaints, in front of all the media, at a completely clean assembly. Ms. Kostadinova congratulated me, wished me success, congratulated the members of the commissions, gave an extensive interview, and then put the General Assembly in another scenario. She has moved this battle outside the General Assembly“, commented Vessela Lecheva.
“Unfortunately, we have been talking about the same thing for two months now, and not, for example, about the useful conversation I had with Ms. Susan Falatko about Los Angeles 2026, about the programs for the integration of Olympic athletes and a number of other initiatives that the American side has“, said Lecheva.
She added that there are still no concrete steps to implement the decisions of the General Assembly after the last meeting with Stefka Kostadinova.
“From the first day, I have been pleading for a civilized transition. What is happening is unprecedented in the 100-year history of the BOC. Ms. Kostadinova's latest declarations, in which she speaks of “pressure exerted – in and outside Bulgaria”, are starting to sound extremely confusing. Let her say specifically what it is about. Because I see more pressure against the decisions of the General Assembly“, added Lecheva.
“The competitions are held on the field of the General Assembly. Everything was convincing there. It was held in front of all the media in Bulgaria. Ms. Kostadinova held this competition outside the field of the General Assembly. Perhaps in an attempt to seek a victory by office. On this field, apart from the official halls, outside the General Assemblies, I am not so strong. Perhaps she is looking for a victory by office there, to steal the elections“, Lecheva shared further and added that she will make another attempt for a meeting, although so far “the promises made have not been kept“.