The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent an official letter stating that it will provisionally acknowledge the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC). This comes despite legal appeals filed in court regarding the most recent election for President of BOC.

“We have carefully reviewed the situation and wish to confirm that the IOC has provisionally acknowledged the results of the BOC Elective General Assembly on March 19, 2025, in particular the election of Ms Vesela Lecheva as the new BOC President and all members of the BOC Executive Board”, the letter reads.

The IOC emphasized that ''we have not been informed of any specific issue/objection before or during the elective general assembly, and we have not been made aware of the fundamental reasons for which the sovereign decisions of the BOC General Assembly are now being challenged locally''. The letter, signed by IOC Director of Olympic Solidarity James Macleod, states that ''Mrs Lecheva and the newly elected BOC leadership will be the only persons entitled to represent the BOC vis-à-vis the IOC, within the Olympic Movement and in all IOC-recognized events and games''.

The Bulgarian Olympic Committee informed the media about the letter and published its full content. "It is important to clarify that this letter has no legal force under Bulgarian law and does not replace the decision of the court, which is the only body with jurisdiction over entries in the register of non-profit legal entities", BOC stated. 

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: BTA