The International Olympic Committee pulled the Bulgarian Olympic Committee’s resources this week amid its leadership tug-of-war, urging the organisation to resolve its internal issues ahead of important sporting events, including the European Youth Olympic Festival and Milano Cortina 2026.
The IOC’s James MacLeod reached out to Vessela Lecheva to ensure that the president-elect has access to the BOC’s official email and is in control of the organisation’s bank account. MacLeod reiterated “that no power can be exercised by or on behalf of the BOC within the Olympic Movement and no funding from the Olympic Movement can be used by the BOC unless expressly approved and signed by you and the newly elected leadership,” according to a copy of the correspondence Glasove received.
According to the publication, the letter is a continuation of the previous correspondence from May in which the IOC gave clear instructions which have not been implemented. The new BOC leadership still does not have access to the administration, information channels and its headquarters.
Lecheva, on her part, stated that she has “acquainted the Executive Bureau, the Control Council, all the institutions with the letter from the IOC.” The former shooter further “insists on unity, responsible actions from everyone to preserve the interest of Bulgarian sport and the Olympic movement in Bulgaria,” she said at the Bulgarian Football Cup Final last month.
These efforts to unify the organisation under her leadership have yet to take effect, forcing the IOC to implement strong actions. “As a precautionary measure, and given the uncertainty of the current situation, we regret to inform you that the IOC/Olympic Solidarity and the EOC will suspend all future payments to the BOC, with the exception of direct payments to athletes on Olympic scholarships, until you confirm that you and the newly elected leadership are in control of the BOC’s operations and bank account,” MacLeod, director of Relations with NOCs, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism 365, explained.
Lecheva was elected into office last March during the NOC’s general assembly and was set to succeed Stefka Kostadinova, who has served in the role for almost two decades. The transition, however, was halted by legal proceedings after several members filed complaints, appealing Lecheva’s victory, including its secretary-general, Belcho Goranov, who later resigned.
Kostadinova, who stayed on as acting president after the elections, told the press that she believes “that no one benefits from unnecessary tension and that everything should be lawful, not driven by emotions and calls for action. I want to assure our Olympic family that I will immediately comply with the Bulgarian court’s ruling on this case, whatever it may be,” Kostadinova stated.
