Podcast in English
Audio Player
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Swiss lay the foundations of physical education in Bulgaria

Photo: nsa.bg

The conference "The work of Swiss teachers - a message and a challenge for future generations" was held today. It was organised by the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" and the Swiss Embassy and is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the arrival of Swiss teachers who laid the foundations of physical education in Bulgaria.

On 17 May 1894, the first 10 physical education teachers from Switzerland arrived in Sofia with the task of establishing sport in Bulgaria. Among them were Charles Champot and Louis Ayer. 

For the first time in Bulgaria, the Swiss imported footballs and various equipment for gymnastics. Champot was Bulgaria's first participant in the Summer Olympics - in Athens in 1896. However, Louis Ayer gained greater fame for fighting in the Balkan War, the Second Balkan War and the First World War, where he died at the Battle of Doiran in 1916. A street in Sofia is named after him.

In honour of the arrival of the Swiss teachers in Bulgaria, 17 May was declared the Day of Bulgarian Sport.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Lyudmil Fotev

"Beer is art, not a product for mass consumption"

"Alphabet of Beer" is the first title I came up with 15 years ago, when I started collecting my beer stories," journalist of the Bulgarian National Radio, connoisseur and exceptional expert on one of the most ancient drinks in the..

published on 5/7/25 3:53 PM

Marking Saint George's Day with a kurban meal at the St George Chapel near Pirdop

According to Bulgarian Orthodox tradition, it is customary on major Christian feast days to make a voluntary offering known as kurban. In general, this involves the distribution of food among Christians, which has a special prayerful purpose. Theologians..

published on 5/6/25 6:50 AM

Exhibits in the National Museum of Military History come to life for the holiday of the Bulgarian Army

Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6), we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition. This does not happen every..

published on 5/5/25 10:18 AM