Presentation:"When faith wins – the path of special champions, our snow heroes"
Coaches – Georgi Bistrin and Elena Durchova
There are stories that are not told with words, but with smiles, courage and traces left in the snow. These are the stories of children with special needs who discover their strength through sports and prove that true victories begin with faith in their own abilities. At this film festival, I want to present to you: “When Faith Wins – The Path of Special Champions, Our Snow Heroes”, to introduce you to the inspiring stories and Olympic successes of young skiers, participants in the Special Olympics programs. Their first steps on the slope, the efforts during training, the excitement of the competitions and the joy of every difficulty overcome come to life in front of the lens. This is not just a story about sports. It is a story about the strength of the human spirit, about friendship, support and the courage to move forward, regardless of the challenges. A story that reminds us that every person deserves a chance to dream, to develop and to be appreciated for their abilities. Our snow heroes show us that victory is not measured only by medals, but by the desire not to give up, to believe in yourself and to inspire others. A story about the unlimited human possibilities, in which faith wins, differences become strength, and sport and cinema unite us in the name of hope, goodness and humanity.
Georgi Bistrin is a long-time alpine ski competitor and coach, and a Senior Physical Education and Sports Teacher at PGEE – Bansko. He also volunteered at the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
A significant part of his work is dedicated to coaching Special Olympics – Bansko athletes, using his experience in sport and education to support young people with intellectual disabilities. He has guided them from their first steps on the slopes through training and international competition, including the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, where Bulgarian athletes achieved medals and notable results.
