Nesebar mayor Nikolay Dimitrov has won "Mayor of the Year" for sport and youth policy among medium-sized towns. A specialist website runs the ranking every year, and readers vote for their favourite mayors.

The awards are split by category and by the size of each town, and they show how people rate their local council's work. Nesebar won for its work on sports facilities and on giving residents the chance to play sport.

Dimitrov said the award reflects steady work to back sport and young people, through projects to build up the town's sports facilities and through direct funding for local clubs and sports schools.

He said much of the credit goes to coaches, teachers, parents and, above all, the children and young people who bring credit to Nesebar with their achievements. "The biggest reward for a municipality is seeing its young generation active, confident and doing well," the mayor said.

The town will keep putting money into sport, backing clubs and giving young people new chances, Dimitrov said. "Sport builds character, discipline and the drive to improve," he added.