INTERVIEW:

Mr, Iliev, you are a largely recognized person as a sport manager and renown sport expert in Bulgaria. Which is the most important award you have received? Which of them is closest to your heart?

The Bulgarian Sports Federation for Children and Youth at Risk (BSFYFC) was awarded the prestigious Ambassador of Good Award during the annual ceremony organized by the State Agency for Child Protection in February this year. Then, the Bulgarian sports icon Stefka Kostadinova, President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and unbeatable world champion and record holder in high jump (209 cm) personally presented the award to me, as a chairman of the Federation, founded 20 years ago. She said: "It is an honour and a great pleasure for me to be here, among people with such huge hearts, caring for our wealth and future - children. I bow to you, Mr Iliev, you are a very shining example to all”.

Why is this award so precious?

I have put long years of efforts to create a model for engaging children in sport, for their integration and socialisation. Some of these youngsters have already won state titles, European, world and Olympic successes follow. The Federation provides children with new opportunities to show their talent and desire for sport. I would like to thank the BOC, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the State Agency for Child Protection for supporting and being with us in this important cause. We follow the development of children at risk, we help the most talented to realize themselves, we already have success at European and world level. These young people deserve more, much more. Annually, more than 2000 children take part in the various initiatives of the Federation. We have also provided special scholarships for the most talented. The Bulgarian Sports Federation for Children and Youth at Risk was established in 2003 and has been actively supporting and promoting sports activities of children from various social institutions in Bulgaria for 20 years. The "Ambassador of Good" award is an acknowledgment for these 20 years long efforts. I treasure it most.

We know that you stand behind the new award of Sofia – World Capital of sport 2024? Why is so important for Sofia to be a World Capital? It has been already a European Capital of Sport for 2018?

Sofia conducted one of the most successful campaigns as "European Capital of Sport", which was highly appreciated by all European countries. As an expression of this appreciation ACES Europe unprecedentedly announced Sofia as the permanent winner of this title. With its numerous sporting events, the Foundation has drawn many other Bulgarian cities into the large family of designated Cities of Sport. Active sports are among the most important activities of modern people, they provide them with an opportunity to improve lifestyles and to overcome the consequences of the global pandemic. The title "World Capital of Sport" is particularly prestigious and gives the host city a new image and perspective. Sofia deserves to be nominated because of its excellence in sport and we would welcome the city's candidature for the World Capital of Sport in 2024," say ACES EUROPE leaders. The designation of Sofia as World Capital of Sport is a natural continuation and upgrade of all the innovations and good practices created and developed during the European Capital of Sport initiative, and this title is an incentive for their continuation. Mass sport and physical activity have been proven to be the most effective means of restoring a normal way of life after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts point out that it is sporting activities that are a powerful anti-shock to overcome the effects of social isolation that forced humanity to stay indoors for months during pandemic. I am very proud that I have contributed to the receiving of this award.

What has the state been indebted to sport for in recent years?

National sports facilities are really in a dire state. The lack of normative legislation, as well as the lack of specificity, is a serious problem. It has been stagnant for 10 years, thanks to different interests, different people. It is high time that the situation was cleaned up, that things were put on the same plane. For the last time, it is necessary to decide and say which will be the objects serving high sportsmanship, which objects will be given to the clubs so that they, in turn, can develop their sports activities. What will remain for the general public, for amateurs, for children in their free time? In Bulgaria, only the Sofia municipality has clear rules for using at reasonable prices (or for free) public sport facilities.

The classification of sports facilities must be done as soon as possible. I stress that this is a legal framework that the specialists must discuss and shape. All of this involves money, which means that there must be a fixed subsidy for sports facilities in the state budget, and there must also be a municipal subsidy. Since 2008, the municipal infrastructure has been included in the European projects, and the local sports facilities are there. That is why projects must be drawn up and applied for. Naturally, the state should also support municipal budgets with earmarked allocations for sports infrastructure. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science are involved and are helping to develop a targeted policy towards the facilities. Giving away the facilities serving the clubs is now imperative, they have been waiting for 10 years to get their bases. And here a new legal framework is needed. Some of the clubs have invested not a little money in improvements and reconstruction. And the ownership situation is unclear.