Bulgarian students with five medals at the International Economics Olympiad in China

Bulgarian students achieved significant success at the International Economics Olympiad (IEO 2026), held from July 12 to 20 in Shenzhen, China. The national team returned with five medals, with each participant winning an individual distinction.

In the overall ranking of 56 countries, Bulgaria holds a prestigious 13th place. On a European scale, the Bulgarian team follows only Switzerland, while the top of the rankings is dominated by Asian countries.

Individual Achievements:

• Silver medals: Sara Ilieva (NPMG "Acad. Lyubomir Chakalov") and David Livshits (SMG "Paisiy Hilendarski").
• Bronze medals: Hristo Koev (PMG "Atanas Radev" – Yambol), Ivelin Neev, and Alex Georgiev (SMG "Paisiy Hilendarski").

The success is a result of preparation under the leadership of Yordan Tsanev, Natalia Borisova, and Veselin Marinov, with financial and organizational support from the Ministry of Education and Science.

What does this mean for Bulgaria?
High rankings in international olympiads in disciplines such as economics are an indicator of the quality of mathematical and economic education in the country. For the future of the Bulgarian economy, this is a signal of the presence of personnel who can compete on a global level in complex analytical fields.