2024-09-11 15:29:31
Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev thanked our athletes who participated in the Olympics in Paris, and wished every future prime minister to welcome athletes after such successful games. He added during a ceremony awarding the athletes in the Council of Ministers that he is sure that the whole of Bulgaria is proud of their achievements in France.
Bulgaria finished 26th in the medal standings at Paris 2024 with three gold medals and a total of seven medals. Another title was won at the Paralympics.
“I wish every prime minister at the end of one mandate to attend the Olympic Games, so successful at that. At the beginning of the next one, to welcome the heroes of these games, because for Bulgaria you are exactly like that,” said Glavchev in his address to the Olympians. their coaches and the heads of sports federations.
“All of you made the Bulgarians feel proud with your performance. Anyone who has been at least a little involved in sports knows what efforts are needed, how hard the qualification cycle is to reach the top and we should all be proud that the Bulgarian flag is at the top and we are listening to the Bulgarian anthem,” he added.
Semen Novikov took the title in the 87 kg classical style wrestling, and within the next day, Magomed Ramazanov became the first in the 86 kg freestyle and Carlos Nassar earned gold in the 89 kg weightlifting. At the Paralympics, Rushdi Rushdi became first in the shot put in the F55 category.
“Coaches and managers make a huge contribution to motivate you for what you have achieved. It remains for me to wish you to be alive and healthy. I am sure that the successes will continue. This is the right path,” added Glavchev.
“There are quite modest gifts from us, disproportionate to what you have achieved. As you know, the state is always indebted to sports. No matter how much money is given to sports, it is not enough based on what you achieve. Huge thanks from everyone, be alive and well,” he continued.
Carlos Nassar was the last to be awarded. The weightlifter achieved a world record in the bout of 404 kilograms after throwing 180 kg, equaling the Olympic standard of the international federation. He then bench pressed 224 kilograms, a kilogram over his own world record in the second movement.
Nassar was personally supported in the hall by the official minister, by the chairman of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Stefka Kostadinova, by the general secretary of the BOC Belcho Goranov, by the legendary football player of the national team, CSKA and “Barcelona” Hristo Stoichkov, as well as by the president of Bulgarian Boxing Federation Krasimir Ininski. Glavchev revealed that in a conversation with Nassar between the movements, he told the weightlifter that the whole of Bulgaria lifts this record 404 kg with him. He also presented him with the flag with which the Bulgarian delegation was in the hall.
“We were in the hall with Stefka, Belcho, Hristo Stoichkov and Krasi. Between the two movements, I told him that the whole of Bulgaria was lifting together with him. It was evident. He could have done it himself, but it’s another thing for the whole of Bulgaria to help,” concluded Glavchev.
The athletes were represented on the podium by “the most beautiful silver in the world”, in the words of Stefka Kostadinova, Boryana Kalein. Mariyana Pamukova’s graduate, who won a silver medal in the all-around at the rhythmic gymnastics tournament, thanked the state for its help and said that she and the other Olympians were proud to have the opportunity to set an example for young people.
“On behalf of all the athletes and my colleagues, I want to thank the state authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, for once again showing their respect for our sports results,” said the silver medalist from Paris.
“I want to say a special thank you to our coaches who treat us like their own children. Without you we would never have made it this far. A special thank you to every single coach who is here today. Thank you to all the sports managers in the federations for always being tried to prepare in the best possible conditions and always supported us, no matter what,” she added.
“I am really happy that we are setting an example to young people of how things should happen. That everything happens with a lot of effort, work, faith and love. I am happy and proud to be Bulgarian. We represented Bulgaria in the best possible way. I wish all my colleagues the best of luck. Never give up, you can always achieve more,” concluded Kalein.
