Over 400 young people from 22 clubs are participating at the fifth edition of the Olympic Winter Festival in Ossogovo, one of the most progressive ski resort between southwestern Bulgaria and northeastern ex-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The event is organized under the slogan “Discovering the Olympic hopes of Bulgaria” by the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and the Association “Sports at leisure.

The festival aims to contribute to the promotion of fundamental ideals, principles and values of Olympism and their spread among the younger generation and to allow for expression of young sporting talent.

After the first three editions in the area Kartala over Blagoevgrad, last year the forum was in Bansko, now moved over Kyustendil, main centre of the Ossogovo mountains.

“Welcome! in this beautiful part of Bulgaria – said Petar Paunov the Mayor of Kyustendil, the main hosting centre, in his address to participants, who prized the first young winners in snowboarding.

Three special prizes were awarded to the youngest participants – 6-year-old Plamen Kolev from Moten, Ivan Ahtapodov and Antonio Antonov from Borobord.

Since its establishment, these competitions were the first serious test for many Bulgarian sport hopes that later proved to be in the national teams of Bulgaria, participated in the Youth Olympics and European sporting events, and some of them are now preparing for the Olympic Games in Pyongchang .