Director — First FINA Swimming World Cup in Bulgaria
Valentin Milkov directed and delivered the first and only Swimming World Cup ever held in Bulgaria — a historic 10KM Open Water competition in the Black Sea near the Port of Varna.
The event brought elite international athletes to Bulgaria and positioned Varna as a capable host for global aquatic competitions. The project was officially recognised by FINA (now World Aquatics) for outstanding organisation and operational excellence.
Strategic Initiative
Bulgaria had never hosted a Swimming World Cup prior to this initiative. Valentin Milkov developed and presented the strategic proposal to FINA, positioning Varna as a credible international host city for the global open-water swimming circuit.
The project required coordination between international sports federations, national authorities, the Municipality of Varna, maritime organisations, security agencies, sponsors, and media partners.
International Impact
The event attracted elite global competitors and validated Bulgaria’s operational capability to host high-level international sporting competitions.
Following the successful delivery, FINA officially recognised Valentin Milkov and the Municipality of Varna for outstanding event organisation, strengthening Bulgaria’s reputation within the international aquatics community.
Execution & Governance
International Federation Alignment
Coordinated directly with FINA (now World Aquatics) to ensure compliance with international competition standards, safety requirements, timing systems, and official certification protocols.
Operational Leadership
Directed cross-functional teams across logistics, maritime coordination, athlete services, security, media operations, and sponsorship management to ensure flawless event delivery.
Legacy & National Impact
The project established a precedent for future international aquatic competitions in Bulgaria and contributed to elevating the country's reputation in global open-water swimming.