Balgarianovinite.com The BAUHAUS Down Syndrome World Championships Bulgaria 2026 closed on Thursday after Bulgarian athletes won 27 medals. The official ceremony and dinner were held at the Ramada Hotel. BTA was media partner of the championship.
Guests from all delegations were treated to Bulgarian folklore in several performances by the National Folklore Ensemble BULGARE.
Federation for Adapted Physical Activity President Slav Petkov presented honorary plaques to delegation leaders from all 27 countries.
Official guests included Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation President Krasimir Dunev, Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation Vice President Nevyana Vladinova, and representatives of the athletics, tennis and other federations.
Bulgarian athletes won 27 medals in total over the championship’s three competition days.
“My assessment is very positive. It was a strong performance, and there will be a fitting closing today. I am glad everything went as it should, without incidents or serious problems. I am glad that quite a few medals will stay in Bulgaria. They are certainly well deserved, and I am proud of my athletes,” Petkov told BTA.
“Against the backdrop of the entire opening ceremony, the brand-new athletics track and all the work we put in over the course of a year, it was worth it. I think Down syndrome is now truly part of sport,” he added.
“We are already in talks to host a championship next year for athletes with intellectual disabilities outside the Down syndrome category. I mean autism and intellectual disabilities, on an indoor track, in other words a European Indoor Athletics Championships at Asics Arena in Sofia. We should know within two weeks whether this will happen,” Petkov said.
He added that he was proud athletes with Down syndrome are now accepted and supported by everyone.
“I can say this is one of my main achievements, the most important one. I really did not expect these young people to receive, first, such broad coverage and, second, such public support. Everyone felt the warmth of Bulgarians and saw how these young people were accepted. So I am proud of Bulgaria,” Petkov said.
Nearly 400 athletes from 27 countries competed in the championship for athletes with Down syndrome. Bulgaria was represented by 20 competitors in all five disciplines: athletics, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis and table tennis. Bulgaria Wins 27 Medals as Down Syndrome World Championships Close in Sofia 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-18 20:23:01 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law