Andrey Kuzmanov (BUL) appointed Minister of Youth and Sports

Andrey Kuzmanov, President of the Bulgarian Modern Pentathlon Federation, has been appointed Minister of Youth and Sports within the Government of Bulgaria.

President Kuzmanov makes his move into politics after a professional career that saw him gain managerial experience in the private sector in trade, manufacturing, services, marketing and advertising.

A former athlete who was Bulgarian national champion in swimming and Modern Pentathlon, Mr Kuzmanov is also a qualified PE teacher and coaching with a Master’s Degree in PE and extensive Modern Pentathlon coaching and analysis experience.

As well as heading up the BMPF, Mr Kuzmanov is Interim President of the European Modern Pentathlon Confederation, a Member of the UIPM Business Affairs Committee and President of the Balkan Modern Pentathlon Confederation.

The BMPF earned praise from UIPM in 2021 for successfully organising two rounds of the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup in Sofia (BUL), following all protocols for the prevention of COVID-19 Coronavirus infection.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “As President of the Bulgarian Modern Pentathlon Federation and in his new capacity as Interim President of the European Modern Pentathlon Confederation, Andrey Kuzmanov is already playing a vital role as a pillar in our global movement.

“Now he will have the opportunity to serve the entire population of Bulgaria and enable many people to experience the benefits of sport at all levels. We are sure he will be an exceptional public representative, using all the experience he has gained in sport and the private sector.

“By accepting this responsibility he is following in the footsteps of many members of the UIPM family – including several members of the UIPM Executive Board. Our global movement has for many years been strongly represented in political office.”