National Universiade Varna 2019, in which 28 Bulgarian universities are taking part, was launched at “Sport Palace” - Varna on 7th May. The ceremony was opened by Prof. Zlatko Dzhurov, President of the Association of University Sports “Academic”. He underlined that the competition was being held for the sixth consecutive time, following the nomination “European City of Sport”.
More than 1000 participants are going to compete in twelve types of sports: basketball, volleyball, football, handball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, athletics, kickboxing, judo, sport orienteering and sport climbing.
Hosts of the sports event are the six universities in the city, and the competitions are to be held at the best sports facilities. Medical University-Varna is going to host the volleyball competitions at its renovated sports complex.
Among the official guests at the event were the Deputy Mayor of Varna Municipality Mr. Kosta Basitov, rectors and representatives of the Varna universities, public figures and athletes. Honorary signs were awarded to distinguished persons with contributions to sports. The prizes for MU-Varna were received by the Director of Medical College - Varna Prof. Dr. Dimitrichka Bliznakova and the Head of TR Sports Ms. Zhulieta Videnova.
During the opening, the competitors and judges took the oaths for fair play and fair judging. The Universiade Olympic Fire was also symbolically introduced. At the end of the ceremony the guests were greeted with a performance by “Diana” Student Dance Ensemble.
After the end of the official part, the handball tournament was launched with a match between the teams of MU-Varna and NSA, which ended with a victory for the students of the Sports Academy, with a very small score difference (23:20). We are looking forward to the participation of the students of MU-Varna in the forthcoming competitions of volleyball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, kickboxing, track and field athletics, sport orienteering and sport climbing.
The organizers explained that besides the complex winner at the Universiade, the University with the largest delegation would also be nominated with the transition cup of Associate Professor Marko Damyanov for outstanding merit to university sports.
The last day of the Universiade – 12th May coincides with the fourth edition of the annual Marathon Varna, which will involve competitors from 40 countries.
Veronika Stoyanova
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