The National Sports Academy marked its 83rd anniversary with a ceremonial celebration and the 4th International Scientific Congress “Applied Sciences in Sport”

The ceremonial celebration of the Academy Day, dedicated to the 83rd anniversary of the opening of the first academic year at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”, was held on 21 November in the presence of official guests from Bulgaria and abroad. Within the framework of the festive event, the 4th International Scientific Congress “Applied Sciences in Sport” was also officially opened.

The host of the ceremony was Assoc. Prof. Hristo Andonov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. Among the official guests were Vasil Terziev – Mayor of Sofia Municipality; Prof. Eliza Stefanova – Chair of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency; Maria Filipova – Deputy Ombudsman; Angel Stoykov – Chair of the National Representation of Student Councils; Rositsa Ivanova – Head of the Sofia Region Department of Education; Andrey Markov – Executive Director of Acibadem City Clinic; Dr. Olga Mitsova – Director of University Hospital “Lozenets”; Prof. Tigran Simonyan – Rector of the Institute of Physical Culture and Sport (Armenia); Assoc. Prof. Branislav Antala – Vice President of the International Federation of Physical Education (FIEPS World); representatives of Bulgarian and foreign partner universities, and others.

In his academic address, Prof. Lozan Mitev, Head of the “History of Physical Education and Sport” unit, emphasized the highly responsible social mission of the National Sports Academy to educate and train generations of young people:

“Every year on this occasion we express our respect and gratitude to several generations of leaders and lecturers who have devoted their efforts to the establishment of the Academy; we present the fundamental values that define the mission of the NSA to the public, and we also demonstrate our contemporary achievements. Over the past ten years, the development of the Academy has provided very broad horizons for strategic development in the decades ahead. This has been a period of systematic modernization affecting all areas – education, science, infrastructure, governance, public cooperation, and media policy. It has also been a time of complete transformation of the Academy’s image, which, with its unique facilities, is one of the leading university sports complexes in Europe. This commits us to the responsibility and awareness that the NSA, objectively in the modern era and in the future, will remain an indispensable and consolidating factor of the sporting idea and culture in Bulgaria. It will continue to be a constructive element of European sports culture, characterized by the values of classical humanism.”

In his welcoming address, the Rector of the NSA, Prof. Krasimir Petkov, summarized important achievements of the Sports Academy: “For 83 years, we can proudly say that a significant part of Bulgaria’s greatest athletes are our alumni, as are their coaches. The slogan of the NSA is ‘A successful career starts here’. Before me are the people who give it real meaning. We do not specify which career we mean. We have opened our doors wide to everyone who wants to succeed, because the mission of the Sports Academy is to create successful people. The outstanding athletes and specialists who have graduated from the NSA and work all over the world are the face of the Academy, while the people in this hall – the lecturers – are the backbone of this process. I congratulate all participants and guests of the upcoming congress – at such forums we strive to give practical and applied value to the research and knowledge shared by specialists.”

The Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, also addressed the academic community and the participants in the international scientific congress: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to congratulate you on 83 years of many successful athletes and coaches and many successful careers in Bulgaria and abroad. I wish you to continue to be an example of how, generation after generation, you build high-quality specialists, coaches, and athletes, as well as lecturers who raise the level of physical culture and sport. I would also like to thank you for the excellent partnership – every time I come to the NSA, I am extremely pleasantly surprised by all the improvements I see and by the number of joint projects, which are extremely important and very well managed. One of the most important things that I wish existed throughout the country can be felt here – continuity. Everything that is done at the Sports Academy builds upon what has already been achieved. I wish that everything you do continues to be an example beyond sporting circles, as it is today. I also wish all participants a successful congress.”

The Chair of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency, Prof. Eliza Stefanova, presented the Rector, Prof. Krasimir Petkov, with the certificate of institutional accreditation of the NSA and stated in an emotional address: “Congratulations on everything you do! Today is the most appropriate day to present you with the certificate of institutional accreditation of the NSA, through which the Agency confirms what our experts have established as high and stable results achieved by the entire academic community. This represents an assessment of the progress made each year and of continuity between generations, not only among rectors. I am therefore convinced that over the next six years we will have a higher education institution, an academy, that is not only a national leader but will also be a leader in Europe. Its alumni and lecturers are always among the top in the world. Congratulations, and I wish you to continue to maintain such high standards, because in this way you are an example to all others.”

The academic community was also greeted by Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova, and numerous institutions and organizations with which the Academy maintains successful partnerships sent congratulatory addresses, including the Ministry of Health, the National Protective Service, the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, the Sofia-City Department of Education, University Emergency Hospital “Pirogov”, University Specialized Hospital for Oncology “Prof. Chernozemski”, and others.

In the spirit of academic traditions, the ceremony continued with awards for outstanding achievements. Students from the four professional fields at the NSA who achieved excellent academic results were awarded scholarships in the amount of BGN 2,500, provided by the Board of Trustees of the NSA. The award in the Faculty of Sport was received by Stanislava Sarandeva – fourth-year student, majoring in Swimming. The scholarship, provided by the Bulgarian Golf Association, was presented by Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova.

In the professional field “Pedagogy of Physical Education”, six students graduated with full distinction: Todor Levenov (4th year) and second-year students Aleksandrina Altanova, Elena Hristova, Emilia Gospodinova, Stilyana Filcheva, and Aleksandar Popminchev. The financial support – BGN 1,000 for each nominee – was jointly provided by the NSA “Vasil Levski” and Fantastico Group, whose representative, Miroslava Georgieva, Director of Marketing and Advertising, presented the award checks.

In the field of “Public Health”, Eliza Mandzhukova, majoring in Kinesitherapy, was awarded, and the scholarship check, provided by Ecopharm, was presented by Dr. Petar Velev, a member of the Board of Trustees.

For the first time, a student from the new specialty at the NSA – “Nurse” in the professional field “Health Care” – was also awarded. Nikol Voynova received her check from Rosi McKee, a member of the Board of Trustees and co-founder of the “Sport in Bulgaria” Foundation, which provided the funds.

The winner of the competition “Development of a Concept for the Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Field of Study at the NSA ‘Vasil Levski’” was also announced. Zlatka Ivanova, a student in the master’s program “Sports Management”, was awarded for her project entitled “Integrated AI System for Personalized Management of the Training Process in Professional Sport – SmartCoach Assistant”. The prize, amounting to BGN 2,000 and provided by the Bulgarian Golf Association, was presented by Krasimir Dachev, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Two additional financial incentives for academic achievements were also announced. Among them is the Award of the Mayor of Sofia Municipality for activities with significant social impact in sport and achievements in sports science. The young researcher who will receive the BGN 3,000 prize will be determined by an academic jury on the second day of the congress held at the NSA. In December, during the event “NSA Athlete of the Year – 2025”, the scholarship for the best sporting achievement, provided by Metal Technology Group AD, will be awarded.

The highest honorary award, the “Golden Badge”, was presented to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Krasimir Dachev, for his contribution to the realization of the mission and strategic goals of the NSA “Vasil Levski”, as well as for his donation of the Rudnichar Mountain Hut. The distinction was presented by the Rector, Prof. Krasimir Petkov.

During the ceremony, diplomas were awarded to those who obtained the educational and scientific degree “Doctor”: Bozhiya Noeva, Galimir Tomov, Vasil Zaharievi, and Petar Petkov (“Theory and Methodology of Sports Science”); Aleksandar Kapitanski (“Sport Psychology”); Yana Marinova (“Physical Education in the Educational System”); and Valentin Velchev (“Kinesitherapy”).

Immediately after the ceremonial celebration, the fourth edition of the International Scientific Congress “Applied Sciences in Sport”, organized by the NSA “Vasil Levski”, began. The forum was officially opened by Prof. Ognian Miladinov, Vice President of the Congress and Vice-Rector for Research and International Activities.

The forum is being held on 21–22 November with the participation of experts, practitioners, and young researchers from more than ten countries. The congress will present current innovations, trends, and issues in applied sports sciences. Prominent experts from the National Sports Academy are participating in the scientific program.

The keynote speakers include Marko Zunic (Croatia) – an internationally recognized expert in law, diplomacy, and sport management; Prof. Daniel Memmert (German Sport University Cologne) – one of the world’s leading scholars in movement science, sport psychology, and computer science in sport; Prof. Stephen Seiler (Norway) – university lecturer and established researcher in endurance training organization and intensity distribution, and others.