Mass sport in Bulgaria

published on 7/29/11 9:19 AM

Photo: BGNES

Generations of Bulgarians have been proud of the country’s sport glory. Historical moments in Bulgarian sport are often remembered and there is a reason why. For a country with a population of less than 8 million people, Bulgaria has won 218 medals at Olympic Games, as well as a number of records and titles won in various tournaments across the world.

Bulgaria’s image as a superpower in world sports has lost some of its shine in the past 20 years of reforms after the collapse of the totalitarian system. However, today’s victories of Bulgarian competitors are still not a surprise for anyone. At this backdrop the European statistic data showing that Bulgaria is at the bottom of the chart in relation to mass sport seem disturbing. About 3% of the Bulgarians say they practice a sport in their free time. The level in Greece and Italy is similar. In Scandinavian countries people who go for a sport in their free time reaches 70%. Unfortunately, 80% of the Bulgarians avoid physical activities or do it only once a month. Main excuses are lack of time and conditions.

In the past years the efforts of the country in improving the conditions for practicing sports have started to give results and concrete playgrounds from the past century have started to turn into modern facilities. Bulgarian Minister of Sport Svilen Neikov has recently announced that more than 120 multi-function facilities for mass sport have already been constructed in the country. The Minister added that 40% of the financing of the ministry is aimed at development of mass sport. The ministry has also started organizing campaigns like the “I love sport” one, aiming at attracting the attention of children and young people towards the pleasure of physical activity.

The shift of focus from professional success towards development of mass sport follows the trends in the whole of the EU. Bulgaria has started to understand that it can benefit from the experience of its European partners in the sphere of sports. The success of countries like Spain demonstrates that investments in the sport culture of the young people affect professional success in a positive way, even if that happens in the long term.

New facilities and campaigns aim at urging young people start sport activities, although this is not such an easy task in the time of new technologies. The Bulgarian education system, plagued by a number of problems, is also not much helpful in the task. Amateur sport clubs and organisations in Bulgarian towns are few, as well as amateur tournaments. Parents also have an important role in formation of attitude towards sport, but it is often neglected. However, personal example and the desire for a healthy lifestyle are the engines of mass sport in Bulgaria.

If training in the fitness club is not one’s preferred way to spend their free time, hiking in the mountain with friends can be the alternative. Blessed by beautiful nature, a number of Bulgarians have found out that a sport can be practiced without special facilities, while motivation plays the most important role. The growing popularity of extreme sports has made a number of people find their new passion in sports like snowboarding, climbing, or biking. Bulgarians have started to look for a better contact with nature due to the everyday stress, and a number of young people have turned sport into a lifestyle.

No matter if the football match with friends, or Sunday hiking in the mountain are the preferred way for spending one’s free time, the benefits of amateur sport are more than the mountain of titles won by professional athletes. Lack of time, on the other hand, can be overcome with motivation for including the physical activity into our daily life.

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Alexander Markov

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Mass sport in Bulgaria

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