An initiative by Lora Hristova

Troyan PLAYS SPORT

Sport and health for the children of a small mountain town.

All the festival participants with their hands raised, Lora Hristova and the mayor of Troyan in the middle
Photo: Ruslana Popsavova

The mission

Troyan Plays Sport is the festival

that Lora Hristova runs together with Troyan Municipality and the local sports clubs. The idea is simple: to bring sport back to the square and the park, and to show children and parents how close the start line is.

With the festival we want to encourage an active lifestyle, to motivate children and young people to choose their sport and start training, to promote the local clubs, and to show Troyan as an attractive sports destination.

Lora Hristova
2 days in the field
19 sports to try
5 places across town
A coach helps a child aim a training rifle from the prone position
Photo: Ruslana Popsavova

Biathlon

The first shot

On the meadow the children lie down behind a training rifle and learn to breathe and hold the sight steady. For many of them this is the first time they meet biathlon.

An honour and a recognition

Host of Olympic Day

On 23 June 2026 the town of Troyan hosts Bulgaria’s national celebration of International Olympic Day. The day is closed by Ms Vesela Lecheva, President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

International Olympic Day is marked around the world on 23 June, the date the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894.

Vesela Lecheva and Lora Hristova with the Bulgaria shirts at the closing of Olympic Day in Troyan
Photo: Ruslana Popsavova

On the field

Nineteen sports over two days

Yoga · Volleyball · Tennis · Football · Basketball · Judo and sambo wrestling · Grappling and jiu-jitsu · Biathlon · Sport shooting · Archery · Orienteering · Trail running, 3 and 8 km · Mountain biking · Canoe and kayak · Abseiling · Spinning · Darts · Dance and Zumba · Street fitness and parkour

The full programme is on the official posters of Troyan Municipality. They name every participant, every sports club and the Troyan in the Future association, together with the times and the five locations.

When22 and 23 June 2026, on International Olympic Day
EditionFamily Edition, the second in a row, after the first in 2025
WhoLora Hristova and Troyan Municipality, with dozens of families and local sports clubs
For whomFor the whole family: demonstrations, open participation, parent-and-child tournaments

Photo: Troyan Municipality

A report by BTA

Locations

  • Turlata Forest Park
  • Chavdar Stadium
  • Troyan Sports Hall
  • Tennis courts, Troyan and Oreshak
  • The Osam river
Hundreds of participants on the pitch of Chavdar Stadium, the mountains behind Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Volleyball on the grass, the ball high above the net Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A girl with a racket on the clay court Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A child dribbling the ball across the grass, teammates and coaches around Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A basketball game in the new sports hall in Troyan Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Children in judo and sambo kimonos, a group photo after the session Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A somersault over the mats in front of the sports hall Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Darts stuck in the dartboard Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The girls of the majorette troupe before their performance Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A dance troupe on the stage in the meadow Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A father and child shooting a bow on the meadow Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A row of spinning bikes in front of the new sports hall in Troyan Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A yoga session on the meadow in Turlata Forest Park Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
A couple resting on a bench by the meadow Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Children in kayaks on the Osam river Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The children at the start under the blue arch, before the run Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Cyclists with their bikes before the start Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The Troyan Plays Sport festival medal on a tricolour ribbon Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The festival cup and plaque, with the medals beside them Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The national team shirts being presented on stage Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
The stage on the meadow at dusk, at the end of the day Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Hands signing a shirt as a keepsake Photo: Ruslana Popsavova
Lora Hristova among the children of the football school on the pitch, the mountains behind Photo: Ruslana Popsavova

    Sport gives children and young people the chance to grow up healthier, more confident and better prepared for the challenges ahead.

    Lora Hristova

    Follow the initiative

    Current news, photos and updates for the next edition are on the Troyan Plays Sport Facebook page.

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    The festival is run together with Troyan Municipality and the local sports clubs.