High-ranking Bulgarian sport representatives hold productive talks with FIBA top officials

MIES - A delegation of leading sports authorities from Bulgaria on Monday met with FIBA officials at the House of Basketball for wide-ranging conversations, covering topics including the development of the sport in the country, the decade-long efforts in building first class sport infrastructures and the desire to host leading world and European basketball competitions in the near future.

The Bulgarian delegation consisted of some of the foremost personalities from the country's top sports bodies. It was led by Mr. Krassen Kralev, Bulgaria's Minister of Youth and Sports. Georgi Glushkov, Bulgarian Basketball Federation President, Valentin Zlatev and Todor Stoykov from Bulgarian powerhouse basketball club Levski Lukoil accompanied the Minister.

The four men sat down with FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann and FIBA Europe Executive Director Kamil Novak. During this time, they presented a plan outlining the development of basketball in Bulgaria and underlined the massive efforts to build top of the line facilities for team sports over the last 10 years.

In light of this ongoing work and huge efforts, the Bulgarian officials expressed their eagerness for the country to host FIBA competitions - both at world and European levels - in years to come, where top Bulgarian clubs and national teams could savor the prospect of playing in front of home crowds.

Bulgaria's Sports Ministry has put an emphasis on participation and promotion of team sports - with basketball high on the list - in view of the social role and impact these have when it comes to attracting youth participants.

The two parties also discussed the ongoing political struggles in European Basketball and, with Bulgaria currently holding the European Union (EU) presidency, touched upon the situation with regards to the current challenges facing the European sports model faces from various sides and how these have recently affected the European basketball national teams too in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

FIBA