While the whole world speaks with admiration about Bulgaria's "children's team," which reached the final of the World Volleyball Championship in the Philippines, a real scandal is unfolding in their hometown of Dupnitsa, which has caused anger among the sports community. The municipal leadership has made a decision that can only be described as an assault on the city's volleyball history
– the specialized Taraflex flooring has been cut up and destroyed.
"To have a Persian rug and cut it up to use it as a doormat" – this is how locals describe what happened, as quoted byzadupnitsa.com.
The flooring, intended for professional volleyball competitions, was placed in several locations unrelated to volleyball
– including the VIP lounge of Bonchuk Stadium, the changing room of FC Marek's youth academy, as well as in a martial arts hall. Parts of the material may have also been used in other locations.
From sporting glory to complete absurdity
The Taraflex was purchased by the previous municipal administration for the needs of the sports hall and has a market value of over 30,000 leva even "second-hand." Instead of being used or sold for financial gain for the municipality, it was cut up and scattered – an act that many describe as vandalism against the city's volleyball tradition.
Volleyball club "Marek Union-Ivconi," previously expelled by the municipality, has given Bulgaria some of its biggest names – Tsvetan Sokolov and Elitsa Vasileva – and now has nowhere to train. Many fans see the municipality's actions as a symbolic end to Dupnitsa's volleyball glory.
Financial and moral paradox
The scandal comes against the backdrop of another disgraceful incident – according tozadupnitsa.comthe municipal administration was defrauded online and transferred 100,000 leva of public funds. Nevertheless, a large number of municipal councilors refused to order an investigation with the justification:"It happens".
Commentary
The decision to destroy the flooring is difficult to explain even in the context of local politics. With minimal expense for repair or resale, the municipality could have preserved not only a material asset but also a part of the city's sporting heritage. Instead, Dupnitsa is currently talking about "golden flooring" in the VIP lounge
– and a destroyed volleyball symbol that brought pride to all of Bulgaria for decades.
Volleyweek.bg contacted Borislav Kyosev, a member of the BFV Management Board, who runs a volleyball club in Dupnitsa where 120 children train. He had not heard of such vandalism happening these days and reminded that the incident was from last year. It remains a mystery why the local press is bringing this scandal to light now.
photos:zadupnitsa.com
