Sixth Open Balkan Workers’ Sport Festival “The Balkans Invite for Peace”

From June 11th to June 15th, 2008, the Sixth Open Balkan Workers’ Sport Festival “The Balkans Invite for Peace” was held in resort complex Albena under the patronage of Mrs. Vessela Lecheva – President of the State Agency for Youth and Sports.

The Festival was carried out with the active assistance and financial support of IRJSC Armeec, Postbank, SAYS, Bulstrad Life and Euroins Insurance Group. A total of 120 workers sports clubs with 1091 participants from Republic of Bulgaria and 1031 participants from 18 countries from Europe, Asia and Africa, namely Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Israel, Tunisia, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, France and Montenegro participated in the Festival in 18 sports disciplines.

Mr. Musa Lami – Secretary General of the European Federation for Company Sports (EFCS) and Professor Veselin Margaritov – Vice-President of SAYS evaluated highly the good organization and results of the Festival.

Traditionally the Festival was opened by Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov – President of CITUB. Among the official guests were Mr. Wim Hoeijenbos – Secretary General and Treasurer of Confederation Sportive Internationale du Travail (CSIT), Mr. Harald Bauer – Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of CSIT, Mr. Moncef Bartegi – Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of CSIT, Mrs. Kalinka Popstefanova – Director of Direction “Youth activities and sports” at Varna municipality and others.

In the complex ranking by nations the first place was taken by NPP Kozloduy, followed by Atom-Sport Russia and Beograd Electricity Serbia.

In the ranking for the CITUB Cup the complex leader was the Maritza East Mine team, followed by Electric Power System Operator and Shoumen Municipality.