Page 43 - Olympism in Socialism

In 1971, the National Council of the
Fatherland Front, the Central Council of the
Trade Unions, the Central Committee of the
Dimitrov Young Communist League, the
Bulgarian Union for Physical Culture and Sports
and the Ministry of Education decided to organise
a mass movement for the improvement of sports
facilities through the voluntary work of the
people, especially the youth. Very soon this
movement gained momentum and produced good
results. More than 9,000 sports grounds in the
villages, in city quarters, factories and schools
were built or renovated. New facilities were
created for people going in for sports.
Construction for extending sports facilities
covers the whole country. It is subsidised by the
local People’s Councils and the Bulgarian Union
for Physical Culture and Sports as well as by
other public organizations and departments, and
a great deal of voluntary work is put in by the
people in this.
The great care for the development of physical
culture and sports in the last twenty years has
resulted in considerable successes. In the period
1952-1976 alone, at six successive Olympic
Games, Bulgaria’s athletes won 75 medals,
including 19 gold, and as many Olympic
champion titles. During the same period
Bulgarian athletes won 58 gold medals,
126.silver medals and 149 bronze medals at
world championships, and 93 gold, 126 silver and
103 bronze medals at European championships.
They improved 72 world records.

32