site.btaUPDATED PM, Sports Ministry, Weightlifter on Bonuses for Paris Olympic Medallists

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev has held a conversation with caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports Georgi Glouchkov, the reason for this being the unpaid bonuses to weightlifters and coaches for medals from the Paris Olympics, said the government information service.

Prime Minister Glavchev demanded an urgent decision from Minister Glouchkov.

In August, Glavchev stated that bonuses would be paid by ordinance to all athletes who are up to eighth place in the Olympic standings. For Olympic champions, the bonuses would amount to BGN 250,000, for a silver medal BGN 200,000, and for a bronze medal BGN 100,000.

Later on Monday, the Youth and Sports Ministry issued a statement declaring its support for the national weightlifting athletes. The Ministry listed the amounts that have been paid to weightlifters and their clubs for participating in major sports forums this year.

Monday’s developments came in response to an interview in which weightlifter Bozhidar Andreev, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said that he has yet to receive his Olympic medal bonus of BGN 200,000 and a total of eleven overdue salaries. Speaking on bTV on Sunday, he said that this has forced him to end his competitive career.

A few days ago, it was reported that he will not be part of Bulgaria’s team for the World Weightlifting Championships, which will take place in Bahrain from December 6 to 15. 

The Bulgarian athlete dismissed reports that he is quitting to take up a construction job, stressing that the only reason for his decision is "the fact that they are making fun of us, not giving us our salaries on time. It has been about four or five months, and we still have not received our bonuses. I do not know why, but it is sheer mockery of athletes".

The two-time European champion and bronze medalist at the 2019 World Championships in Pattaya expressed regret for not accepting an offer to compete for another country. "To be honest, I really regret it. I turned down the chance to lift for another country because I wanted to lift for Bulgaria, my home country, and show what Bulgarians are made of."