Bulgarian PM to Keep 'Procuring' Sponsors for Sports Clubs

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has insisted that he is to continue his controversial involvement in the affairs of sports clubs.

"The government is using all means to help and will continue to help the development of all sports," Borisov stated in Varna Saturday regarding his questionable "procurement" of sponsors for sports clubs.

He was in Varna to present Port Varna, a state-owned company, as the new sponsor of the local Cherno More ("Black Sea") basketball club, bTV reported.

Borisov justified the sponsorship with the fact that Port Varna's profit has grown by 70%, and "it is only proper to redirect this sum to the basketball club."

He mentioned that Cherno More was about to disappear for lack of money, and that he has been making attempts for a year to get Varna businesses to invest in the local basketball; however, he did not manage to do that until the Transport Ministry helped him to get Port Varna as a sponsor.

Borisov also announced that the Cabinet has granted BGN 400 000 for new track and field equipment in Varna under an agreement that he made during his visit to the London Olympics with the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

The PM did thank all of Bulgaria's Olympic athletes, including boxer Kubrat Pulev, wrestler Stanka Zlateva, gymnast Yordan Yovchev, and Bulgaria's national volleyball team.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria's Deputy PM and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov also boasted that his institution has supported many of the Bulgarian athletes.

"The government will continue to invest in Bulgarian sports in the future. Only in this way will the young generation be training in sports, and kids will establish themselves as good citizens of Bulgaria," Tsvetanov stated, adding his view that sports are the best counteraction against youth crime and drug addiction.