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On 11 and 12 November in Rakitovo and Velingrad is held the public discussion of the project for winter sports center "Sutka". On this occasion we are talking with Mr. Todor Bozev, Chief Expert "Sport and Tourism" in the Municipality of Velingrad:

- Mr. Bozev, you were actively involved in the public discussion about Sutka last spring and you are one of the people in the municipality who know the project well. What are your forecasts and expectations for the new discussion this week?
- For objective reasons, the Sutka project was stopped, the procedure was stretched and postponed in time. It is normal that people have backed off to some extent, but I hope that everyone would weigh the realities associated with the project: negative if it is not implemented and positive if the local public defends the chance of the project being implemented. With indifference shown by the people in Rakitovo and Velingrad, the protocols of the public discussion will be to the detriment of the project, the chances of continuing to the next stage decrease. Therefore, the main goal is for the public to clearly tell the Ministry of Environment and Water wants or does not want such a project.

- How do you assess the new parameters of the Sudka project that will be discussed: less tracks, smaller initial investments, much greater environmental friendliness?
- The new version is very good. Practice in new winter resorts such as Bansko and Batak has shown that an easier and faster effect is achieved by making one or several slopes to attract skiers and tourists. It is very important to understand that ultimately the realization of a project like "Suytka", even in this shortened version, will lead to improvement of the tourist infrastructure in Velingrad and Rakitovo. It is clear that a resort without tourist infrastructure cannot look for a place in the rankings. This will certainly also lead to improvements in urban infrastructure. When he started Bansko, one made a hotel, another sidewalk in front of his house and his neighbor also wished to be competitive - so the city took on a new look. The same will happen in Velingrad when the Sutka project starts.
- Only memory remained 1981, when for the first and only time Velingrad hosted a world-class ski start of Yundola. Will we regain this old glory if the Sutka project comes to fruition, or will that alone not be enough?
- Right now the competition is very serious. It is important, however, that all the requirements of the World Ski Federation regarding the slopes will be met under the Sutka project. The technical data for the tracks are consistent and will meet the established norms. Let's not forget the fact that the start of the World Cup was also held here because of the successes of Olympic medalist Ivan Lebanov. The combination of a standards-compliant base plus the future success of the Velingrad ski school will be a guarantee that we can regain our old glory and establish ourselves as a new and promising winter center.
- Does Velingrad sufficiently use the sport as an advertisement of the resort and a way to attract tourists? And to what extent can the implementation of the Sudka project help for positive change?
- For the time I work as a chief expert "Sports and Tourism" in the municipality, we have made every effort each of the sports events held here to be an advertisement of the city. From the point of view of the available base, the sports events in Velingrad are numerous. The face of the city as a sports center has totally changed in a positive direction thanks to the construction of a new stadium. The first camp requested by the Bulgarian Basketball Federation is already a fact, which starts on November 15. It is a pity that in the presence of investors such as Mr. Beev, who want to modernize and enrich the sports-material base, the district government hinders such noble initiatives.
If we continue to enrich the sports base, especially with a large-scale investment, as expected under the Sutka project, the advertising of the city as a tourist center will grow tremendously. Therefore, the efforts in support of the project are actually efforts for the future of not only the sport, but the development of the city and the region as a whole.
Elena Baeva