The FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup competition in Sofia, scheduled initially for April 9-11, will take place at the end of March, because of the Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. Ballot papers will be counted in Arena Armeec sports hall, which cannot be converted into a sports venue in 12 hours, the International Gymnastics Federation explained. Unfortunately, the competition will take place behind closed doors, which is bad news for athletes and fans of rhythmic gymnastics.

The organizers of the event must get everything ready by March 26 when athletes will perform their first routines. Meanwhile, they are facing another challenge- to ensure a safe competition amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“There are fans of rhythmic gymnastics everywhere and it is quite sad when sports halls remain empty”, said Iliana Raeva, President of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, in an interview for Horizont channel of the Bulgarian National Radio. “I think that the athletes, the judges, the coaches and the organizers of the event are aware of the nightmare humanity has been going through and will take some things into consideration. The good news is that the competition will take place with or without sports fans. I believe that the pandemic will soon be over and in the near future our fans will be with us in the rhythmic gymnastics halls.” 

Before the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia Bulgaria’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Team will participate at the Grand Prix Moscow 2021. In Iliana Raeva’s words, the Bulgarian athletes have never been in a better sporting shape before. Several days ago, they performed their routines at a control training. Boryana Kaleyn won gold at the routines with all apparatuses. Katrin Taseva and Stiliana Nikolova placed after Kaleyn in the individual all-around event.

“We were very satisfied with the girls’ performance at the control training, because they were in a very good shape and showed great motivation at a very early stage”, Iliana Raeva went on to say. “Last year we had to change the routines several times, in order to make them more difficult. We continued to work in the same spirit after the European championships. Currently all athletes from the national rhythmic gymnastics team are performing extremely difficult routines and are able to compete with the world elite in this sport. Of course, we have analyzed all imperfections, made new work plans and made rehearsals more intense.”

All athletes from the world rhythmic gymnastics elite in the individual and the group events are to perform at the forthcoming Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup competition in Sofia, because this tournament is also a qualifier for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

In June, Bulgaria’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Team is to perform at the Varna 2021 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

“We are very excited and motivated, because Bulgaria will host European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships for the first time. This week, a team of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation will be in Varna to hold serious meetings related to the preparation of the forthcoming European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. I am sure that we will enjoy a wonderful competition, because we have been receiving an incredible support from Bulgaria’s marine capital.”

It is not clear yet whether Bulgaria’s athletes will compete behind closed doors in Varna, because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, all fans of rhythmic gymnastics will have the opportunity to enjoy their performance online or on the TV.

Compiled by: Diana Tsankova

Interview of Krastina Ivanova, BNR-Horozont

English version: Kostadin Atanasov