FISA's Otzetova voted vice president

Events Director for FISA, Svetla Otzetova has been voted in as the Bulgarian Olympic Committee’s (BOC) vice president.

Otzetova finished a close second behind former Olympic Champion high jumper Stefka Kostadinova in the final poll. Kostadinova will become the first-ever woman president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

?It was a big surprise that I was so close,? said Otzetova. ?It means people understand what I’m capable of doing.?

?I’ve been every day in newspapers and on TV,? said Otzetova who was already very well known in Bulgaria following her Olympic champion success in rowing at the 1976 Olympic Games when Otzetova became the first Bulgarian woman (along with her doubles partner) to win an Olympic gold medal.

Otzetova has become a household name and says it is now much easier for her to get travel visas for her work with FISA which involves travelling to Olympic, World Championship and World Cup venues to advise on the required standard of the rowing course. ?I also got out of paying a parking ticket today,? said Otzetova. ?He saw my name and let me off!?

As vice president Otzetova will be involved in looking after Bulgaria’s bid to host the 2014 winter Olympics in Sofia. She will also to be responsible for international relations and hopes to raise the effectiveness of the BOC to become more involved in forming sports policy in Bulgaria.

Otzetova has been on the executive board for two terms so she says the position is not new, ?just a higher position for me.?

FISA’s Executive Director Matt Smith praised Otzetova’s appointment; ?Rowers can be very proud that another rower has been elected to a leadership position in a strong National Olympic Committee, especially Svetla who plays such a significant role in the success of our events.?

Otzetova will remain as Events Director for FISA.

?FISA is my first priority,? said Otzetova who will consider running for BOC president in four years time depending on how she sees developments and how Kostadinova works out.

Currently Otzetova is involved in Bulgarian rowing as honorary president of the national federation and is also active in masters rowing including participating herself from time to time.

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