Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Swiss lay the foundations of physical education in Bulgaria

Photo: nsa.bg

The conference "The work of Swiss teachers - a message and a challenge for future generations" was held today. It was organised by the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" and the Swiss Embassy and is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the arrival of Swiss teachers who laid the foundations of physical education in Bulgaria.

On 17 May 1894, the first 10 physical education teachers from Switzerland arrived in Sofia with the task of establishing sport in Bulgaria. Among them were Charles Champot and Louis Ayer. 

For the first time in Bulgaria, the Swiss imported footballs and various equipment for gymnastics. Champot was Bulgaria's first participant in the Summer Olympics - in Athens in 1896. However, Louis Ayer gained greater fame for fighting in the Balkan War, the Second Balkan War and the First World War, where he died at the Battle of Doiran in 1916. A street in Sofia is named after him.

In honour of the arrival of the Swiss teachers in Bulgaria, 17 May was declared the Day of Bulgarian Sport.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The story of Deanna Haag and her cosy bookshop in Varna, Bulgaria

Deanna Haag was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She grew up dreaming of adventure and new horizons.  After graduating from Wittenberg College in Ohio with a degree in Fine Arts, her life took an unexpected turn. The young American stood out for her..

published on 2/5/25 1:53 PM

The charity Viennese Ball in Sofia will support a new social cause

Support for the activities of the Institute of Social Activities and Practices in Sofia is the cause that will unite organizers and guests of the Viennese Ball, which has become a tradition for the Bulgarian capital. This year's edition, scheduled..

published on 2/3/25 2:25 PM
Photo: Bulgarian Sunday School

Earthquakes, water shortages, wind generators… eco-challenges unite students from Bulgaria, Italy and Denmark

Topics related to renewable resources and natural disasters united students from the Bulgarian Sunday School "Assen and Iliya Peykovi" in Rome, the First English Language School in Sofia and the Greve High School near Copenhagen. The project aims to..

published on 2/3/25 1:22 PM