Representatives from the IV Student Guard Unit at PGEE “Konstantin Fotinov” – Burgas, the VI Student Guard Unit at SU “Hristo Botev” – Aytos, the XVIII Student Guard Unit – Pazardzhik, as well as distinguished students from Burgas, personally accompanied by the Head of the Regional Department of Education – Mrs. Petya Petrova, held a meeting with the legendary athlete Carl Lewis and the great Hristo Stoichkov, as part of the “Worthy of Bulgaria” forum.
The initiative is a key activity of the project by the “Youth Guard Units” Association – “Young People – The Future of Bulgaria – with Unlimited Opportunities” under contract № 25-00-20/10.07.2023, implemented with financial support from the National Youth Program (2021-2025), Thematic Direction – “Non-formal learning for acquiring skills and key competences,” Ministry of Youth and Sports. The forum aims to redirect the attention of young people to fully realize their potential and encourage them to partner in informal learning groups.
At the newly opened “Garden of the World,” young people enjoyed the opportunity to meet 9-time Olympic champion Lewis just hours after his arrival in Bulgaria. They got autographs from the sports stars and captured this unforgettable meeting, during which the American athlete received a special gift—a Rhodope bag. Hristo Stoichkov was also presented with a handmade icon of Saint Mina.
A day earlier, the boys and girls were inspired by the Ballon d’Or winner, who was a guest speaker at the “Worthy of Bulgaria” forum. Joining him in the initiative were Olympic rhythmic gymnastics medalist Reneta Kamberova, popular actor Marian Bachev, Chair of the Plovdiv Administrative Court Mariana Shoteva, Mayor of Pazardzhik Todor Popov, President of the Hebar Volleyball Club Alexander Ivanov, President of the Bulgarian Association of Sports Journalists Naiden Todorov, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Italy in Plovdiv Giuseppe De Francesco, and representatives of the National Guard Unit.
IMAGES: Milen Torbev
