The scheduled meeting of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee headed by Stefka Kostadinova did not take place today, the press service of the elected BOC Chairwoman Vessela Lecheva informed.
Secretary General Danail Dimov was at the BOC building today, but was unable to meet with Stefka Kostadinova or her Secretary General Belcho Goranov, who was at the same time at the Annual Awards of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation.
"Ms. Stefka Kostadinova and Mr. Belcho Goranov planned to hold a meeting today at 12:30 p.m. at the BOC building on ul. „Angel Kanchev“ №4 meeting of the old Board of Directors, which was relieved of responsibility on March 19, 2025 by the General Assembly Executive Bureau with two points:
1. Information on the preparation for the participation of the Bulgarian Olympic Delegation in Milano Cortina 2026; 2. Determination of the date, time, place and agenda for holding a General Assembly of the BOC to approve the Bulgarian Olympic Delegation for participation in the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games; 3. Miscellaneous;
In this regard, the elected Secretary General Daniel Dimov went to a meeting at the BOC to inform the old Board again about the IOC's determinations, as well as the texts in the BOC statutes that affect the formation of the Olympic delegation. According to the BOC Statute, the only competent body that can decide on the participation of the Bulgarian delegation in the 2026 Olympic Games Milano Cortina is the Executive Bureau, elected at the General Assembly on March 19, 2025.
Whether due to the great media interest or for other reasons, the Board of Directors was not held at the appointed time, but the letter from Vessela Lecheva (dated 15.12.2025) concerning this important issue for our Olympic movement was deposited with the administration," said Vessela Lecheva's press service.
Former national rhythmic gymnastics athlete Kamelia Ignatova, who currently works in the International Department of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, stated that he has not stopped working, despite the ongoing legal battles between the old leadership, represented by Stefka Kostadinova, and the new leadership led by Vessela Lecheva.
"It hurts me when I see the press conferences of Albert Popov and the snowboarders, in which they feel uncertain about what will happen to them during the Olympic Games - that they would go without a flag and without an anthem and as if no one cares about them. This is absolutely untrue. Athletes who are in the final stage of their preparation should not be created with such a feeling of uncertainty. The three federations - skiing, biathlon and skating, know very well what the Bulgarian Olympic Committee is doing. I want this to be known - the Bulgarian Olympic Committee has not stopped working," she said.
"I will not go into the topic of the BOC management, because this is not my job. The work of the BOC team, regardless of whether it is led by Ms. Stefka Kostadinova or Ms. Vessela Lecheva, continues," she added.
Ignatova said that the official information sent to the BOC is also received by Vessela Lecheva and Secretary General Danail Dimov, and that in the last month the two have been holding regular meetings with the administration.