Vesela Lecheva, the newly elected head of Bulgaria’s Olympic Committee, has officially been authorised to oversee the organisation following a working meeting with former president Stefka Kostadinova.
According to the Bulgarian News Agency, Kostadinova — the former high jump world record holder who has led the organisation since 2005 — signed a power of attorney on Wednesday enabling Lecheva to perform presidential duties until the formal court registration process is finalised.
The handover comes more than a year after the elective General Assembly held on 19 March 2025, at which Lecheva was elected to lead the committee. The transition had been delayed by legal appeals from three individuals, which prevented the new leadership from being entered into the Commercial Register.
According to Sportal.bg, all legal challenges against the 2025 assembly were withdrawn several days ago, paving the way for Lecheva and the Executive Bureau to be officially registered as the committee’s representatives.
Despite the domestic legal deadlock, Lecheva has maintained international standing. The dispute did not affect the country’s participation in the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, where Lecheva was the recognised head of the delegation.
In June 2025, the International Olympic Committee announced its provisional recognition of the 2025 election results, confirming that Lecheva and her team are the sole individuals authorised to represent the BOC within the Olympic Movement.
“Such situations should not be repeated in sports organisations,” Lecheva stated, adding that work will now begin ‘at full speed’ to ensure institutional stability. The BOC head remains in constant communication with the IOC, and the latest resolution of the Bulgarian case is expected to be presented to the IOC Executive Board during its meetings in Lausanne this Tuesday and Wednesday.
