Ivet Lalova is the host in the eighth season of "Games of Will"

In the following minutes, Ivan Kanchev and Yordan Iliev tell how the fastest white woman arrived at the sacred Arena of the most-watched reality show – "Games of Will" - season 8. A little over a month ago, Ivet Lalova stepped onto the Arena in Durankulak and stood alongside Pavel Nikolov. The new season will be broadcast this autumn on NOVA television.

A New Role for Ivet Lalova

Sports legend Ivet Lalova will be the host in the eighth season of the reality show "Games of Will." The athlete takes her place in the Arena in Durankulak, where she will work together with Pavel Nikolov. The show's auditions gather applicants from all over Bulgaria and abroad.

The Transition from Athlete to Host

In an interview regarding her new professional direction, Lalova shares that the transition to the television screen has been a long process of personal development. She emphasizes how much she has changed during this period.

"The transition was quite a long journey. I won't hide it. It looks really easy, but in fact, a lot of time has passed. I have changed a lot along this path and during this time. I worked hard to develop in other directions. Because when you have been doing the same thing for over 20, maybe over 25 years, you sometimes forget what other qualities you have and in what other directions you want to take your life," says Ivet Lalova.

She adds that the work of a host requires specific preparation and carries responsibilities different from those of a competitor: "It looks easier, their work looks truly easier, even smaller, but actually, I see now that it's not like that. Because being a host, being on the other side of this competition, has its own difficulties, its own preparation, and its own responsibilities."

Professional Distance and Tasks

According to the athlete, one of the main tasks in her new role is to maintain distance from the participants. She notes that initially, she felt the urge to support them as a coach, but she realized that her function is to be the link between the tribes and the audience.

"One of the first lessons I learned from Pavel is that we should not be their friends. [...] My role is to be the link between the participants and the audience. Therefore, I realized that I am not their coach, nor am I their physical sports trainer," she explains.

On-Screen Presence in the Arena

Ivet Lalova will have a key role in the episodes, appearing mostly during the Tribal Councils. She expresses satisfaction with the filming location on the Black Sea coast and emphasizes that participating in the most successful reality show in Bulgaria is a dream come true.

Watch the eighth season of "Games of Will" this autumn on NOVA. The "After the Games" podcast can be watched on NOVA PLAY, Vbox7, and YouTube.