[size=55:1b8yxy9l]Dnevnik 14 October 2010
Bulgaria's ski federation wants to build ski jumping complex in Sofia
The Bulgarian Ski Federation launched the idea of building a huge ski jumping complex in Sofia using European Union (EU) funds.
Such projects are part of the International Ski Federation (FIS) plans. Bulgarian Sport Minister Svilen Neikov had talks with the co-ordinator of the FIS Continental Cup series Horst Tillman, responsible for the construction of ski jumping slopes in the world.
If Sofia builds a three-hill complex, the city can host races for the summer world cup and the winter trophy, Tilman said, adding that Bulgaria deserves this because it has ski jumpers such as Vladimir Zografski, who put up an excellent performance in the summer series.
Such a complex has been built in Kazakhstan’s capital Almaty and similar facilities are under construction in Turkey and Romania, Tillman said.
According to Tilman, the project will cost between 10 million and 15 million euro.
The president of the federation, Tseko Minev, said that Neikov will prepare the necessary documents for EU financing and speak to the chief architect of Sofia to decide on a site. If the project is implemented, Sofia will have great chances to host a round of the Ski Jumping World Cup.