A key working meeting was held in the Council of Ministers between representatives of sports federations, Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, Minister of Youth and Sports Dimitar Iliev, and sports advisor Dimitar Berbatov. The discussions focused on the future of Bulgarian sport and the need for comprehensive reform in its management and funding.
The President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, described the initiative as an important step towards the creation of a new Sports Law, which would become a real basis for the development of the sector.

Ganev: "Sport must become a priority"

Speaking to the media, Ganev emphasized that the current sports policy needs serious rethinking.
"It is clear to everyone that the Ministry of Youth and Sports is one of the last in terms of importance and funding. It is no coincidence that the Minister of Sports is often announced last. There must be more funds – sport is prevention," he stated.
According to him, mass sports play a direct role in building a healthy society, and successes on the international stage are not accidental but a result of consistent state policy.

Need for a long-term strategy

Ganev emphasized the need for a clear vision for development across three horizons:

• short-term

• medium-term

• long-term

This strategy should cover key elements such as:

• modernization of sports infrastructure

• increase in state funding

• stimulation of private initiative

"These steps will allow federations to work more calmly, set higher goals, and truly achieve them," he added.

Volleyball as a management model

The President of the federation gave volleyball as an example of a working model based on collectivism and partnerships.
"Volleyball is a team sport, and results come through teamwork. We adopted this model long ago – we actively seek partners and build a stable structure," said Ganev.
He noted that thanks to a consistent policy and additional funding, the budget of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation now exceeds 8 million euros, making it the second largest in the country after football.

Basis for future changes

Lubomir Ganev expressed confidence that the meeting has laid a stable foundation for real reforms: "We laid a good foundation for the future development of sport - both with regard to the new Sports Law and the way the sector is managed in Bulgaria."

photo: Nikolay Varadinov