Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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

Phoenix Balkan dance group in Basel invites folk dance lovers to online training

The Phoenix Balkan dancing group based in Basel , Switzerland, invites folk dance lovers to practice during its new creative season . For four years now, they have been held online through the Zoom platform.  The participants are from at least..

published on 9/9/24 2:30 PM

Vasil Levski Bulgarian school in UK's Barking opens the new academic year

On September 9, the Vasil Levski Bulgarian school in Barking , Great Britain, opens its doors for the new school year 2024/2025. "We can't wait for you to fill the classrooms to learn and have fun together," the school administration shared on..

published on 9/9/24 2:23 PM

24 Bulgarian women from 19 countries nominated for "Bulgarian woman of the Year"

For yet another year, the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad will present the annual award "Bulgarian Woman of the Year - Sveta Zlata Maglenska 2023" at an official ceremony to be held in October.  24 Bulgarian women residing in 19 countries..

published on 9/9/24 2:20 PM