A sudden political shake-up rocked the Bulgarian Athletics Federation (BAF) after another turbulent reporting and election meeting, which cast doubt on the unity of the sports community.
Georgi Pavlov, who officially took office as president, did not hide his disappointment with what occurred. In an emotional statement, he emphasized the unprecedented nature of the events, categorically stating that such a clash has not been observed in the sports organization over the past three decades.
"We witnessed an extremely unpleasant situation that reveals deep internal contradictions," Pavlov commented. According to him, some participants were motivated solely by personal ambitions and a desire for power positions, rather than a genuine interest in the development of athletics.
A dramatic moment was the mass exodus of delegates from the hall before the official program was completed, which drew sharp criticism from the newly elected president. Pavlov emphasized that the remaining three unaddressed points were of exceptional importance for the future of the sport.
Despite the tension, the BAF leader demonstrated a will for reconciliation. "I hope that once emotions cool down, we will be able to work together," he said and extended a conciliatory gesture to his opponents.
Before his current appointment, Pavlov was the first vice president of the federation and a long-time president of AC "Pavel Pavlov". He is also the organizer of a tournament of the same name, which is the last significant international athletics competition with European ranking held in Bulgaria.
The future of BAF remains uncertain, but the new leadership expresses optimism about overcoming internal divisions.