site.btaBulgarian President Meets Bulgarian Athletes Participating in Rio Olympic Games

Bulgarian President Meets Bulgarian Athletes Participating in Rio Olympic Games

Sofia, August 20 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev visited the Olympic Village of the Summer Olympic Games in Rio to meet the Bulgarian athletes. Attending the meeting were also Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Secretary Belcho Goranov, Minister of Youth and Sports Krassen Kralev, Bulgarian Ambassador to Brazil Valeri Yotov, Olympic Attache Lyubo Ganev, BOC Vice President and President of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation Valentin Yordanov, Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Iliyana Raeva and the Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics group.

"The state should support the sport because it builds patriotism and national self-confidence," President Plevneliev said at the Bulgarian National Television studio in Rio de Janeiro. The President wished the Bulgarian athletes higher confidence in their own abilities. He recalled that Bulgaria had been one of the first countries to support the revival of the Olympic Games more than a century ago.

The head of State thanked Elitsa Yankova, who won bronze in the women' 48 kg freestyle wrestling and Ivet Lalova, who qualified for the 200 final in the running events.

The Bulgarian athletes presented Plevneliev with the Rio 2016 mascot, Vinicius.