site.btaParalympic Medallists' Coaches to Receive Lifetime Pensions

Coaches of Paralympic medallists will be able to receive a lifetime pension, Parliament decided here on Thursday after MPs passed amendments to the Physical Education and Sports Act tabled by Vazrazhdane.

The amendments are aimed at avoiding discrimination against coaches of Paralympic medallists, who were previously not included in the scope of possible subjects for receiving a lifetime monthly pension. The right to a lifetime monthly allowance was established by law for Olympic and Paralympic medallists, as well as for coaches of Olympic medallists, but not for coaches who prepared Paralympic medallists.

Currently, only two coaches of Paralympic medallists qualify for the lifetime bonus, which will represent a cost to the Ministry of Youth and Sports's budget of approximately BGN 7,800 by the end of 2024 and no more than BGN 23,500 for next year's budget, according to the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports Matters.