The first Balkan Sports Games: more than 60 children who have beaten cancer, in Panagyurishte

From 19 to 21 September, Panagyurishte hosted the first Balkan Sports Games for children and young people who have overcome an oncohaematological disease. More than 60 children and young people from Bulgaria, Romania (the PAVEL association) and Turkey (the LÖSEV foundation) competed in the 50-metre race, swimming, chess, football, table tennis and air rifle shooting.

The games were organised by our association under the patronage of the Mayor of Panagyurishte Municipality, Zhelyazko Gagov, and with the support of “Asarel-Medet” AD. The opening was on Friday evening — with a motorcycle parade by the “Iron Brothers” and “Khan Asparuh 681 AD” clubs and motorcyclists from Panagyurishte, and with a concert in the “Arena Asarel” hall. The guests also visited the History Museum, where they saw the Panagyurishte Gold Treasure.

The greatest victory has already happened.from the Association “Children with Oncohaematological Diseases”

Chess that helps

For many of the children, sport was already a friend in hospital. Alper discovered chess during chemotherapy. “When he was six and a half, we found out about the terrible diagnosis,” his mother says. Fourteen-year-old Enes from Turkey is in Bulgaria for the first time — and says chess helped him through treatment.

The prizes were presented to the winners by the European taekwon-do and kickboxing champion Ivan Velev together with his coach, Zdravko Erov. And the children left the town a gift — the “Treasure” graffiti in the town park.