23.06.2026
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" joined the global celebrations of International Olympic Day and warmly welcomed the traditional relay with the Olympic flame.
The symbolic torch run, which this year marks its 30th anniversary, passed through the central building of the Alma Mater to send a strong message about the academic community's commitment to the humanitarian principles of Olympism.
The initiative to celebrate this day worldwide dates back to 1975, following a decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in honour of the founding of the organisation in 1894 and the revival of the modern Olympic Games.
In Bulgaria, the day has been celebrated since 1976, and in 1996, the Olympic Club of the NSA "Vasil Levski" started the traditional torch relay between the capital's institutions directly involved in youth and sports development.
The parade was officially welcomed by the vice-rector of Sofia University, Prof. Atanas Simeonov. He greeted the participants and organisers from the National Olympic Academy at the BOC. Prof. Simeonov emphasised that Alma Mater traditionally supports the values of fair play, tolerance and solidarity, which are at the heart of the Olympic movement.
Together with Vice-Rector Prof. Simeonov, the teaching staff of the Department of Sport at Sofia University, led by its head Prof. Georgi Ignatov, took part in the official welcome.
The presence of the sports educators shows the university's support for developing physical education and sports among young people.
The torchlight procession included Assoc. Prof. Venelina Tsvetkova from the Department of Sport and students Krastina Ivanova and Viktoria Nikolova from the Faculty of Education and Arts Sciences. Their presence was a vivid example of how Olympic ideals inspire and unite young people. Sofia University's participation once again proved that science, education and sport share a common mission – shaping moral and responsible individuals for society.
