Minister Mitov received a donation from the family of the Swiss founder of the sports movement in Bulgaria, Louis-Emil Eyer
12 November 2015 News
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov received a donation from the family of the Swiss founder of the sports movement in Bulgaria, Louis-Emil Eyer. The teacher known as “the Swiss with Bulgarian heart", died on the front during World War I as Bulgarian officer. The donations will be exhibited at the National Museum of Military History and the Museum of Physical Culture and Sports. The official ceremony was held at the MFA and it was attended by the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Bulgaria H. E. Denis Knobel, Bulgarian Ambassador to Switzerland Meglena Plugtschieva and representatives of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov underscored the gratitude of Bulgarian people for the deed of Louis-Emil Eyer and his sacrifice for our country. „Louis-Emil Eyer left a long-lasting trace in Bulgarian-Swiss relations. The donated exhibits will keep alive the memory of this exceptional Swiss and Bulgarian, will inspire the friendship between our countries, and will make next generations rediscover the life and deed of Louis-Emil Eyer,”said Minister Mitov.
The Swiss Ambassador Denis Knobel emphasized that the donation is a symbol of the long-lasting and excellent relations between the two countries. "The exchange of values is part of diplomacy and an affirmation of the friendship between Swiss and Bulgarian people. You can rely on the support of our country to continue strengthening bilateral relations in the future," said Ambassador Knobel.
The Director of the National Museum of Military History, Sonya Penkova, and the Director of the Museum of Physical Culture and Sport, Katya Ivanova, expressed their gratitude for the donation, laying emphasis on its contribution to and significance for national history. They presented certificates of appreciation and plates that will be handed to Louis-Emil Eyer’s ancestors.
The donation consists of the sword of the officer, two Bulgarian orders - "For Bravery" and "For Military Merit", a photograph, and an original oil painting depicting young Louis-Emil Eyer with a laurel wreath, which was his first award from a sports competition held in a Swiss town in 1887. The family history of Eyer continues to be associated with our country. After returning to Switzerland, Louis-Emil Eyer’s son, Marcel, who was born in the town of Lom, turned the house by Lake Geneva into a museum, where he kept his father’s sword, his orders, and a number of photographs.
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