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 Bulgarian school "Rodna Stryaha" in Cyprus, or how difficulties give rise to hope

Every Bulgarian school abroad has its own story, and that of the Rodna Stryaha Bulgarian school in Cyprus began in 2015. Its foundations are built on the dream of a Bulgarian teacher - when one day Bulgarian children decide to return to their..

published on 4/7/25 10:55 AM

President Radev attends launch of Forest Week at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

President Rumen Radev will today attend the opening ceremony of Forest Week in front of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The theme of this year's celebrations is "A century of eternal creation, preservation and care!" This year marks the 100th..

published on 4/7/25 8:05 AM

The first week of April in Bulgaria is dedicated to forests

For 100 years, foresters in Bulgaria have been organizing Forest Week. A concert entitled “A century of eternity” on 7 April will give the official start to the initiative dedicated to the planet’s lungs. And though it has been a century since..

published on 4/6/25 5:05 PM