Bansko is your door to the future

- What brought you in Bulgaria and Bansko?
Marc Giardelli: I come often here since the year of 2004 when I saw project, which were extremely ambitious and vast. Than I become a consultant at the Bulgarian Ski Federation as I saw, I can be useful. Every time I come, I convince myself that Bansko is the pearl to open the doors for Bulgaria towards Western Europe.
Why do you call Bansko a pearl?
Marc Giardelli: Bansko is unique with the combination of mountain, town and excellent ski tracks. Even the pampered tourists chose it when they can go to hundreds of other places around the world. I believe and see that Bansko is turning to an attractive tourist destination for the whole European community and even so for the elite tourism. This is profitable and the next winter I will personally guide groups here to show them the advantages of Bansko.

Will that be next summer?
Marc Giardelli: Yes, in 2006 and 2007. One of the best characteristics of this resort is that the people here are very nice, friendly, helpful and work hard.

You have common project with the municipality of Bansko…
Marc Giardelli: Yes, and the most ambitious of them is to establish a Sports Academy. Bansko has excellent preconditions for growing good sportsmen and why not good coaches.

How and what grabbed you in Bansko?
Marc Giardelli: At the end of the 70`s in the year 1979, I came here for a first time and I felt like I’m in the Middle Ages.

It has been only 25 years past and I see how everything around is changing quickly in the spirit of the world standards. The economics, the structure of the business and the buildings, and the fancy cars, even the highway to the town is almost done. It is important that the growth is in the right direction. Not more than 5-10 years and Bulgaria will stand high in the European community. I am so pleased that I have come to Bulgaria so soon and I have noticed its great potential for business and tourism. As I have been skiing everywhere in Bulgaria I convinced my self that only in Bansko you can find conditions for modern skiing. Even if they are told that an Olympic village will be built, in Bansko would not feel embarrassed. This town has the natural and geographical advantages, which are required for the Olympic runs.

Are there other skiers like you who have the same opinion for Bansko and Bulgaria like you?
Marc Giardelli: Oh, yeah! Rosy Mitelmayer, Franc Klamer, Hans Trincle…Me and Patrick Gotlib have planned to be together here in December.

What do you think are the chances for Bulgaria to be a host country for the Winter Olympic Games?
Marc Giardelli: I hope Sofia will win and become a host for the Winter Olympic Games in 2014, because a lot of marketing and economic work has been done already in this direction. I will do everything I can to help this cause.

Where do you think should start the Olympic disciplines?
Marc Giardelli: In Bansko! No doubt and only in Bansko in view of the fact that here are built the most modern ski lifts and the infrastructure between the town and the trucks-which is to a great extent, owing to the hard work, the right thinking and the investments.

Thousands of new apartments and houses were built here, haven’t you bought one for you yet?
Marc Giardelli: I am thinking about that and very soon, I will answer you this question positively.

How would you comment the fact that English people already bought hundreds of lodgings and they really overturned the real-estate market in our country – at the coast, in the mountains and even in the villages?
Marc Giardelli: The British people act faster than the Germans, the Dutch and the people from the other European countries. Nevertheless, they will come too because Bansko is a Devine place.