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On December 16, 2016 at “Europe Hall”, Dohodno zdanie took place the closing ceremony of the “Ruse – European City of Sport 2016” campaign. Among the official guests of the event were Mr Anatoli Iliev – Member of the Managing Board of the European Cities and Capitals of Sports Federation (ACES EUROPE), Mr Hugo Alonso – General Secretary of ACES EUROPE, Asen Markov – Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, the Deputy Mayor for Municipal Property, Economic Policy, Sports and Tourism – Stara Zagora – Mrs Krasimira Chahova, the Mayor of Ruse Municipality Plamen Stoilov and his Deputies – Strahil Karapchanski, PhD and Ivan Grigorov; the Director of the “Culture and Education” Directorate Irena Petrova, the Head of Department “Education, Youth Activities and Sport” Sasho Shterev. The event was also attended by champion athletes Anelia Nuneva, Evgeni Ignatov, the Deputy Regional Governor of Ruse Region Stanimir Stanchev, members of Municipal Council - Ruse, representatives of Ruse sports clubs, schools, children, parents and teachers.

“These 365 days are only the beginning. We fulfilled our mission and sport for us is a long-term strategy. I am delighted that we were awarded this prestigious title and I assure you that we will continue with the same pace”, said Mayor Stoilov. He also thanked ACES Europe for the support and trust that Ruse had been given.

“This campaign is only the beginning and I believe that Ruse will continue to actively work for sport development. Sport unites communities and makes people happier, healthier and better. I would like to congratulate you on the numerous sporting events that Ruse hosted this year”, said Mr Alonso.

In 2016 the city of Ruse conducted a large-scale sports campaign, with hundreds of elite and mass participation sporting events, which engaged and inspired thousands of sports enthusiasts and healthy life style followers. More than 20 000 active athletes and hundreds of sports enthusiasts, aged 3 to 80, participated in the campaign and the audience exceeded 100 000 people. Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation supported more than 130 sporting events implemented by more than 60 organisations, institutions and sports clubs in Ruse. Among the most attractive large scale events stood out the first of its kind International cross-border Free Spirit Run Giurgiu-Ruse, The International Gymnastics Festival “Danube Pearl”, Climbing competition “Ruse 2016”, Martial Arts festival, The Spring and Fall Sports Games of Ruse University and the project “Ruse, Dance!”.

The Mayor of Ruse Mr Plamen Stoilov and the four young girls who were the faces of the “Ruse – European City of Sport 2016” campaign – Tsvetelina, Yanitsa, Malvina and Gabriela passed in the Flag of the European Cities and Capitals of Sports Federation to Deputy Mayor Ms Chahova, who will present it to Mr Zhivko Todorov Mayor of Stara Zagora – the Bulgarian city holder of the European City of Sport title for 2017.

Anatoli Iliev extended greetings on behalf of the Mayor of Sofia Municipality Ms Yordanka Fandakova.

The young Ruse talents who demonstrated their skills during the ceremony included: the young football players from the Children’s football academy at FC “Dunav” and the players from Children’s football club “Drakoncheta”; young singer Gabriela Yordanova who performed the anthem of FC “Dunav”; DanceSport Club “Nastroenie”; Wushu Club “Kalagia”; the veterans from Sports Club “Dunav”, children from Kindergarten “Slantse”.