1999-2009 © Copyright by Swim Star 2000 Media & Marketing Agency, Belgrade

Ivan Tsanov, MA in Psych
ivan_tsanov@yahoo.com
S w i m   S t a r   W e b   P o r t a l - S w i m m i n g   I n t e r v i e w 
Mr. Ivan Tsanov

One of the top Bulgarian swim experts ever. Many times the BUL swim champion in the backstroke and butterfly of all levels. Balkan Junior champion in 100 m back (1977 and 1978). EU Junior Championships 1978 – ranked 5th in 100 m back. Author of more than 1,000 swim articles and 5 books. Editor-in-chief of the popular Bulgarian sport media www.bulswim.info. Secretary-general of the Association of the Bulgarian swimmers and LEN correspondent. MA graduated in psychology with the PhD thesis: Decision making in the conflict situations. Expert in conflictology and management. What to say more - the greatest swim friend of ours from Bulgaria. We appreciate him a lot for this interview.

THE GREATEST EURO SWIM ENTHUSIAST AND PROFESSIONALIST
I.Rasula
Arranged
and prepared by
Igor Rasula
Editor-in-Chief
Specially for
The SWIM STAR
WEB PORTAL
Comments:
igorrasula@gmail.com

The interview has been arranged via live web link between Amsterdam,NED and Sofia,BUL on Feb.01,2009

  Words of welcome...
Pozdrav G-dinu Canovu i zahvalan sam vam na ljubaznosti za intervju na Swim Star Web Portal-u. Uvek ste nam dobrodosli !   Hi Mr.Tsanov, I appreciate your kindness for this appearance in the SWIM STAR WEB PORTAL ! You are always welcome!
   
Canov:  Hvala puno Igore! Swim Star Web Portal je napopularnija plivacka medija u sirem regiounu Jugo-istocne Evrope. Za mene licno, to je velika cast da odgovorim na vasa pitanja. Suguran sam da ce ovaj interviju potaci veliko interesovanje.   Tsanov:  Thanks a lot Igor! The Swim Star Web Portal is the most popular swim media in the wide region of the SE Europe. For me, it is a great honor to answer your questions. I’m sure that this interview will attract a great interest. 
 
  On the beginning of our great international swim cooperation...
Skoro 7 godina je proteklo od trenutka kad smo zapoceli sportsku i plivacku saradnju, jednu od najvecih u ovom delu Evrope (izmedju Sofije i Beograda), uprkos mnogim "cudnim" okolnostima - politickim, socijalnim i dr. koji su ostali iza nas. Mozete li se vratiti na pocetke u toku 2002 godine za kratko?   Almost 7 year period concluded since we've been started with our swim & sport cooperation, one of the greatest in this part of Europe (between Sofia and Belgrade) in spite of many "strange" political, social and other circumstances left behind. Could you turn us back at the beginning of 2002 for a while?
     
Canov:  Mi smo startovali cak i ranije - tokom 2001. godine. Kao i obicno, sve nastaje iznenadno.  Procitao sam na Internetu nesto o aktivnostima plivackog kluba "Swim Star" i ostao impresioniran. U trenu sam shvatio - ovi momci ocigledno vole plivanje. Za mene, ljubav prema plivanju je najvaznija stvar. Sve dalje u nasoj saradnji - to je istorija. Veoma sam ponosan na tu saradnju.   Tsanov:  We’ve started even earlier – in 2001. As usually all begins by accident. I’ve read on Internet something about Swim Star club activities and was very impressed. I’ve at once understood – these swim gays really love swimming. For me the love of swimming is the most important thing. The rest of all other engagements -  it is a history. I’m proud about that co-operation. 
 
  Something about the FBSS (First Bulgarian Swimming Site)...
Prvi bugarski plivacki sajt (FBSS) je rodjen i zivi sticajuci znacajnu sportsku i medijsku ulogu godinu za godinom. Ovog meseca, a kao nezavisna plivacka medija, dobili ste velikog sponzora - predstavnika Speedo-a za Bugarsku. Recite nam nesto o novim planovima.   The FBSS is born and is living all those years reaching the significant sport and media roles year-by-year. This month as an Independent web swim media, you have got the great sponsor - the Speedo representative in Bulgaria. Tell us something about the new plans.
   
Canov:  Imamo velikih planova. Da startujemo sa izdavanjem plivackog magazina, da poluparisemo i promovisemo plivacke dogadjaje po citavoj zemlji. Ugovor izmedju nas i Speedo-a ce nam pomoci da otvorimo nove dimenzije u pomoci nasem voljenom sportu. FBSS je postao najpopularnija plivacka medija u Bugarskoj. Naravno, popularnost medjutim podrazumeva i veliku odgovornost.   Tsanov:  We have the great plans. To start with issuing of a swim magazine, to popularize and promote the swim events across all the country. The contract between us and the Speedo representative in Bulgaria will help us to open new dimensions to support our beloved sport of swimming. FBSS became the most popular swim media in Bulgaria. That popularity is however a big responsibility. 
 
About the swimming sport across the Balkans...
Plivacki sport na Balkanu - koga bi bilo dobro pitati kad je rec o njegovoj buducnosti?   The swimming sport across the Balkans - who has to be asked about its future?
     
Canov:  Naravno plivace, posmatrano sa svih aspekata. Mi imamo veliku moc. Na primer, u Bugarskoj postoji 400.000 ljudi koji se dnevno interesuju za dogadjaje iz plivanja. Bugarska je nacija koja broji 11 miliona ljudi na citavoj planeti. Ja sam optimista kad je rec o razvoju plivackog sporta u regionu Balkana. Tu su tri razloga. Prvo, dobri klimatski uslovi, duga morska obala i puno prirodnih vodenih povrsina. Drugo, tu je plivacka tradicija. Trece, postoji ambicija plivackih poslenika. Plivanje ce postati prvi individualni sport na svetu za jedno 80-100 godina, smenjujuci laku atletiku. Treci milenijum je milenijum plivackog sporta    Tsanov:  The swimmers regarding in all aspects. We have the great power. For example in Bulgaria exist 400 000 people who have daily interest about the swim sport. Bulgarians are nation from ca. 11 million people across the entire planet. I’m optimist about the future developing of swim sport at the Balkan area. Three reasons. First, good climate conditions, also the long coast line and lot of natural water reservoirs. Second, swim traditions. Third, ambitious swim people. Swimming will become the first individual sport in the world after 80-100 years replacing the track and field. The third millennium is millennium of the swimming. 
     
Nesto o saradnji, razmeni sportskih poseta, medjunarodnim mitinzima, novim Balkanijadama i drugim idejama u regionu jugo-istocne Evrope. Da li ce one moci biti razvijane u doglednoj buducnosti. Da li interes postoji i kakvo je o tome vase misljenje?   On the cooperation, exchanging visits, multi nation meetings, the new Balkan Swimming Games and other ideas in the region of the South Eastern Europe, would they be developed in the near future, does the interest exist and what is your opinion about that?
     
Canov:  Nazalost organizacija seniorske Baklanijade je 'propala' prosle godine. Mislim da ne postoji zelja za obnovom odrzavanja plivackih Balkanijada. Pesimista sam. Ali vidim mogucnost u organizaciji Mini Balkanijada. Na primer, igre koje bi okupile Bugarsku, Bosnu i Hercegovinu, Srbiju i Makediniju. Ili neki drugi format. To moze biti realnost. Ili mec izmedju 2 nacije, kao sto vec postoji izmedju Hrvatske i Slovenije u juniorskoj konkurenciji. Tsanov:  Regrettably the Absolute Balkan Games collapsed last years. I think the presence of will for reestablishing of the Balkan Games does not exist. I’m pessimist. But I see the other possibility – the mini Balkan Games.  For example – Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and FYROM. Or the other format. That is fully real. Or 2 nations meet as existing Croatia-Slovenia Junior format. 
 
  Mr. Tsanov and the LEN corespodent activities...
Vi ste oficijelni korespodent LEN magazina iz Bugarske. To je velika cas i duznost u isto vreme. Ali mi mislimo da bi vasa pozicija u Evropskom plivanjau mogla biti daleko visa. G-din Canov to zaista zasluzuje. SWIM STAR WEB PORTAL to ima pravo da kaze.   The official correspondent of the LEN Magazine from Bulgaria is Mr.Tsanov. It is great honor and the duty in the same time. We think that your positions in the European swimming might be higher. Mr.Tsanov really deserves that. The SWIM STAR WEB PORTAL has the right to say that.
     
Canov:  Ja nemam interesa za pozicije i postavljenja u Evropskom plivanju. Ja sluzim Bugarskom plivackom pokretu. Ako bi me Bugarski plivacki poslenici nominovali na takve pozicije, morao bih da razmislim. Ja znam licno druge plivacke radnike u Bugarskoj koji bi bili operativniji za pozicije u LEN-i umesto mene. Mnogo sam dobio i stekao od moje predivne i voljene zemlje i Bugarskog plivackog sporta. Do kraja zivota, imam obavezu da im se na tome oduzim.   Tsanov:  I don’t have interest about high positions and posts in the European swimming. I’m servant just of the Bulgarian swimming movement. If Bulgarian swim people nominate me about the positions mentioned I’ll think over. I know personally also the other Bulgarian swim persons who are more suitable for the LEN structures than me. I’ve obtained so many from my beautiful and beloved country and the Bulgarian swim sport. To rest of my life I have to give them back a lot. 
 
  Seeing the Serbian swimming from abroad...
Posto govorite mnogo jezika - jedan od retkih poliglota u plivackom sportu, mozete pratiti plivacka dogadjanja u Srbiji i drugim zemljama regiona. Kako vidite trenutnu situaciju u mojoj zemlji. Ali, ne sa "intelektualnog" nivoa.   As you speak many languages - one of the rare polyglots in our sport, you can follow up the swimming sport in Serbia and other countries in the region. How could you see the present situation in my native land? But do not see it "intellectually".
     
Canov:  Da, mogu da citam plivacke vesti na 8-9 stranih jezika. Medju njima i na Srpsko-Hrvatskom, Slovenackom, Rumunskom i Turskom. Uz pomoc web prevodioca, pratim i dogadjaje u Grckom plivanju. Razumem 100 % Srpsko-Hrvatske tekstove, cak pisane u slengu. O situaciji u plivackom sportu Srbije... To je tesko pitanje. Pored toga ja sam stranac. Veoma dobro znam kako su osetljivi plivacki radnici Srbije za misljenja koja dolaze iz inostranstva kad su u pitanju njihove aktivnosti. Konacno ja sam Bugarin. Srbiju po pravilu ne interesuje Bugarski pogled na stvari. Medjutim, ja mislim da je najveci problem Srpskog plivanja ne-efikasan menadzment na svim nivoima. Drugi problem - imate nedostatak modernih plivackih uslova - bazena. S druge strane, imate odlicne plivacke trenere i narastajuce plivacke talente. Zelim svu srecu plivackom sportu Srbije u buducnosti.   Tsanov:  Yes, I could read the swim texts in 8-9 languages. Among them Serbian-Croatian, Slovenian, Romanian and Turkish. With the help of the web based translations I follow also the Greek swimming. I understand 100% of the Serbian-Croatian written texts even slang. About the present situation in the Serbian swimming… Difficult question. Additionally I’m the stranger. I know very well how sensitive are the Serbian swim people about the opinions from abroad regarding theirs activities. Finally I’m Bulgarian. Serbians as a rule don’t take into consideration the Bulgarian’s point of view. So… I think the main problem of Serbian swimming is noneffective management of all levels. Second problem – you have the lack of modern swim facilities. Otherwise you are in possession of excellent swim coaches and rising swimming stars. I wish good luck of the Serbian swimming in the future. 
 
  On the Bulgarian swimming in the present...
Unutar vase cenjene zemlje, od kada je Bugarska usla u zajednicu Evropski drzava (Evropsku uniju), imajuci u vidu cinjenicu da interes za plivanjem postoji medju 400 hiljada ljudi, koji bi bili glavni pravci  u domenu brzeg razvoja plivackog sporta u Bugarskoj u narednom periodu?   Within your respectable country, since the Bulgaria went into the EU community, and according the fact that the interest for swimming deal more then 400 thousands persons, what are the top themes on the faster development of the Bulgarian swimming sport in the upcoming period? 
     
Canov:  Bugarsko plivanje je sad u napredovanju. Interes za ovim  sportom se sada vratio. Na poslednjem takmicenju "Zamorata 2008" godine koje je odrzano na bazenu 'Spartak' u Sofijii ja nisam bio u stanju da pronadjem mesto za sedenje. Bilo je 800 posetilaca. Imamo plivackog velikana na otvorenim vodama Petra Stojceva. Ali, mi takodje imamo i znacajnih problema koje bi trebalo resiti. Bugaraska ima ogranicene plivacke uslove. Nas najveci problem je da nasi talenti u svom uzrastu 16 - 17 godina napustaju plivanje. Mi imamo instrumente kojima cemo ih zadrzati u plivanju.   Tsanov:  The Bulgarian swimming now is in progress.  The interest about swimming sport in my country is returned. On the last swim tournament Zamora being held at swim pool “Spartak” in Sofia I couldn't find seating place. 800 spectators. We have a swim giant – the amazing long distance swimmer Petar Stoychev. But we have also the hard problems to resolve. Bulgaria has limited swim recourses.  Our main problem – our talents stop to swim at age of 16-17. We haven’t instruments to keep them in the sport of swimming. 
   
ABS - Asocijacija bugarskih plivaca je osnovana prosle godine. Predsednik je G-din Krastev vrhunski sportski novinar u vasoj zemlji i jedan od glavnih eksperata za plivanje - moj kolega. G-din Canov je generalni sekretar. Da li je to sindikalna organizacija ili ona ima za cilj promociju plivaca i podizanja interesa za sportom medju stanovnistvom? ABS, the Association of the Bulgarian Swimmers is established last year. The President Mr.Krastev is the top sport journalist in your country and one of the main media experts for aquatics - my colleague. Mr. Tsanov is Secretary General. Is that the syndicate organization or the one that can promote swimming and lift-up the interest throughout the population?
   
Canov:  Asocijacija bugarskih plivaca je mlada organizacija. Mnogo stvari tek treba napraviti, Ali udruzenim snagama, mi cemo uspeti. Mi imamo zelju, ciljeve, organizaciju, sredstva i ljude. Tsanov:  Association of the Bulgarian swimmers is a young organization. So many things for making. But with joint efforts we’ll succeed. We have will, goal, organization, money and people. 
   
Ovde u Amsterdamu, u okviru moje magistrature novinarstva morao sam nedavno da obnovim - dopunim svoj portfolio, i prijatno sam se iznenadio ugledavsi nekoliko "sjajnih" clanaka na FBSS-u o plivackim aktivnostima u srednjim skolama i fakultetima u Americi. Kao profesionalac, zelim da i dalje pisem o modernim idejama u domenu Evropskih plivackih iskustava na vasem web-sajtu-u. Da li FBSS ima ideju da se prosiri na sire prostore u domenu pracenja dogadjaja sa celog kontinenta ili se ogranicava samo na Bugarsku i Balkanski region. Mnogo Bugara govori Engleski jezik. Vise od 100 njih dveno poseti SWIM STAR WEB PORTAL i  nasu najcitaniju stranicu "Poslednji dogadjaji". Here in Amsterdam, within my post graduation (the Masters in Journalism) I had recently updated my portfolio where I was pleasantly surprised with a few "great" articles I have been issued at the FBSS on the High School and the College swimming in the USA. So, as a professionalist in sport media, I'd like to continue expressing modern ideas from my European experiences at your web site. Does the FBSS have an interest to be expanded over other parts of the continent - I mean not to be closed only in Bulgaria and the Balkans.  Many Bulgarians know English, more then 100 visitors each day we have clicking at the most seen page of our SWIM STAR WEB PORTAL ("Last events").
   
Canov:  Ne, FBSS ce ostati Balkanska medija. Nasi citaoci su grupisani po sledecoj statistici: 55% posetioci iz nase zemlje, 10% iz Makedonije, 3-5 % iz Srbije, Slovenije i Turske, 2-3 % iz Grcke i Rumunije, 2 % iz USA i Italije, a samo retki dolaze iz Hrvatske, Bosne i Hercegovine, Albanije i Francuske. Evropa je podeljena u 5 evidentnih podrucja: Nordijski, Latinski, Germanski, Ruski region i Balkan. Da bi se uslo sa Balkana u neki od tih regiona, to je veoma tesko. Razlicite kulture, drugaciji ljudi, i td. A da bismo to napravili potrebno je jako mnogo para. U ovom momenti, mi ih nemamo. Tsanov:  No, FBSS will rests the Balkan swim media. Our readers are divided as follows – 55% visitors from the native land, 10% from FYROM, 3-5% from Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey, 2-3% from Greece and Romania, 2% from USA and Italy, rare visiting from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and France. Europe is divided into 5 evident regions – Nordic, Latin, Germanic, Russian and Balkans. To penetrate from the Balkans into the other regions is very difficult. Different culture, different people and so on. And to make that we need also a lot of money.  In that moment we haven’t. 
   
Nedavno ste zapoceli promociju plivackih komplekasa u Bugarskoj (Spartak, Diana, NSA). kakva vam je ideja? Ekonomski interes, da dovedete vise dece i ljudi na bazene ili da startujete sa novim vidom promocije plivackog sporta? U Srbiji postoji 168 bazena, ali je plivanje na niskim granama. Mislim da plivacki oficijali ne znaju na koji nacin da to upotrebe u razvoju sporta. Da li je slicna situacija i u Bugarskom savezu? Recently, you've started promoting the swim complexes in Bulgaria (Spartak, Diana, NSA). What your idea deals with? Economically, to bring more kids and people into the pools or to establish new approach in the swimming promotion? In Serbia, 168 swim pools exist, but the swimming is at the low levels. I think the officials do not know how to use that fact towards the development of sport. Is it the same in the BUL swimming?
   
Canov:  Zelimo da dovedemo puno ljudi na plivacke bazene sirom zemlje. Plivanje je narodni sport u pravom smislu te reci. Plivanje ne podrazumeva samo takmicarski plivacki sport. Ne zaboravite to. U Bugarskoj na primer, masters plivanje je veoma razvijeno. Masters plivanje je najrazvijeniji deo plivackog sporta u zemlji. Mi imamo uticaja, sredstva, kontakte Tsanov:  We want to bring more people to the swimming pools. Swimming is a people’s sport in a real sense of that word. Swimming isn’t only the competitive swimming. Don’t forget that. In Bulgaria for example the Masters swimming is very good developed. Masters swimmers are the strongest part of our swim movement. We have influence, money, contacts. 
   
Pred kraj, zeleo bih da pomenem jos jednu cinjenicu. Dobro poznati Bugarski plivacki trener Dimitar Bobev je izabran za trenera godine u Hrvatskoj za 2008. Mnogi drugi iskusni treneri su rastrkani po svetu. Vi ih poznajete iz razlititih aspekata. Siguran sam da Bugarska zasluzuje bolju poziciju u Evropskom i svetkom plivackom pokretu. To bi u isto vreme bilo sjajno i za ovaj sport u regionu Balkana. Da li biste bili otvoreni za takvo i slicno angazovanje? Near the end, I'd like to mention one more fact. Well known Bulgarian swim coach Dimitar Bobev is proclaimed as the national trainer of 2008 in Croatia last year. Many other experienced coaches from your country are dispersed all across the globe. You are known from any position. I am sure that the Bulgaria deserves better position in the European and the world's swimming. That would be great also for the swimming in the region. Would You be opened for such engagements?
   
Canov:  U principu, Bugari su veoma dobro integrisani u stranim drustvima. Sada imamo puno sloboda da putujemo i radimo u skoro svim zemljama Evrope. Zasto tako ne bi bilo i sa plivackim trenerima i specijalistima. Ali to moraju da odluce Bugarski plivacki radnici. Ako budu zeleli, mi cemo ih podrzati.  Tsanov:  On principle Bulgarians are integrated very well in the foreign societies. Now we have the full freedom to travel and work in almost all Europe. Why not as swim coaches and swim specialists. But those decisions have to be made from the Bulgarian swim people. If they want we’ll support them. 
 
  Continuing of the swim media cooperation...
Za kraj, zeleo bih da izrazim moju veliku zahvalnost za prijateljstvo koje traje 7 godina, ali i za vreme koje ste posvetili ovom razgovoru o plivanju za najpopularniji web-sajt u Jugo-istocnoj Evropi.   And for the end, I'd like to express my huge gratitude for the friendships that are lasting 7 years, as well as for the time to talk about the swimming for the most popular swim web site in SE Europe. 
     
Canov:  Ja sam uvek spreman da pomognem plivackom sportu. Ujedno se zahvaljujem za vasu pomoc i prijateljstvo. Mi zajedno pisemo deo plivacke istorije Balkana.   Tsanov:  I’m always ready to help the sport of swimming. I also thanks to you for your help and friendship. We make together the piece of the Balkan swim history. 
   
Nastavicemo sa nasom borbom za bolje uslove za buduce plivacke generacije u nasim zemljama. Nadam se da nemate nista protiv. Puno pozdrava. We'll go on in our struggle for the better conditions for the future swim generations in our countries. Hope you won't mind. Best regards.
   
Canov:  Mi smo poceli zajedno, zajedno nastavljamo dalje. Do nas, buducnost pripada plivacima. Plivacki pozdravi vasim posetiocima. Tsanov:  We began together, we prolong together. To us, the future belongs to the swimmers. Swim regards from me to all your visitors!
 

  Ivan Tsanov in the swimming and other actions:
Multi medalist at the national Masters swimming championships
With his daughter Tsveta Tsanova at the Black Sea coast vacations
With the swim colleagues at the national Masters championships
At the main board of the ABS - Association of the Bulgarian swimmers

Want to get into touch with Mr. Tsanov, try via his e-mail - ivan_tsanov@yahoo.com

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