Balkan Cycling Union
The Balkan Games are a regional multi-sport event held between nations from the Balkans. The first Games were held in Athens in 1929.
For the first time it was discussed the possibility of organizing the Balkan athletic games in 1924. at the annual meeting of the Yugoslav athletic association. The idea went public in 1927, when the Bulgarian National Federation proposed the organization of competitions of young people from all the countries of the Balkans.
The same year, Yugoslavia suggests organization of the swimming championships of Balkans in Split. One year later in 1928 prior to the Olimpic games in Amsterdam , the Greek Alliance launches campaign to maintain the Balkan Games. At a meeting in Amsterdam immediately after the Olympic Games , representatives of the Balkan countries have unanimously decided that in 1929 will be organized Balkan games. The competition was held in Athens as Balkan Games in athletics . In these games, the athletes participated from Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia and Turkey. After the competition, participants made official propositions for Balkan Games. These propositions are determined to be held in Athletics every year and the countries which will participate in the games must send a minimum of 20 participants and a supervisor. At that time was issued a statement confirming the equality of all participants in the games. It was agreed that in future Balkan games will be organized in those sports that are present in the Balkan countries.
The first official game in Athletics were held in Athens in 1929 year. From then until the 1940s were held 11 such competitions . Before World War II Balkan games were held in: wrestling ( 6 times) , football ( 7 times) and cycling ( 1 time ) . After the end of World War II games are updated , so that in 1946. were held in gymnastics, soccer, volleyball , swimming, water polo , archery and chess , and in 1947. extended to boxing and skiing . Athletics were restored in 1953. during the 12th Balkan game in Athens. In in 1947. the first half in 1948. competition in some sports have been expanded with participants from Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland , and are held as the Balkans – Central Europe games . Later were included: basketball ( in 1959. Men , and in 1963. Women ) , Tennis ( 1960s. While for men in 1966. Women ) Football (1964 ) Automotive (1969 ) and cycling (1971 ).
At 1998, during Tour of Yugoslavia, on the initiative of representatives of Cycling federation of Yugoslavia, meeting between National Cycling federations from Balkans was held in Pristina. It was agreed to start with Balkan Cycling Championships, and to establish Balkan Cycling Union.
Presidents
1999-2002: Costas Karampetsos, Greece
2002-2006: Costas Karanpetsos, Greece
2006-2012: Thanassis Tzimas, Greece
2012-2016: Emin Muftuoglu, Turkey
2016-2021: Sasho Dimitrijoski, North Macedonia
2021-2023: Vladimir Kuvalja, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2023- : Emin Muftuoglu, Turkey
Balkan Cycling Union Managment Board
Emin MUFTUOGLU - President
Epameinondas SARRIS - Vice-President
George GEORGIOU - Vice-President
Alfred TAHIRAJ - Member
Alexandru-Niculae CIOCAN - Member
Nations host Balkan Championships Road ME
Serbia
1974, 1980, 2000,2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018
Turkey
1973, 1978, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2015
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2003, 2015, 2017, 2019
Greece
1975, 1979, 1989, 2002
Bulgaria
1976, 1981, 2005,
Romania
1972, 1977, 1999,
Albania
2007, 2016
North Macedonia
2008,
Nations host Balkan Championships Road Youth
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2003, 2019
North Macedonia
2008, 2018
Turkey
2015, 2016
Romania
2013,
Serbia
2014,
Nations host Balkan Championships MTB
Montenegro
2005,2009, 2016
Serbia
2010, 2011,
Turkey
2012,
Bulgaria
2013,
North Macedonia
2014,
Greece
2015,
Nations host Balkan Championships Road Women
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2019
North Macedonia
2018
Nations host Balkan Championships Track
Greece
2015, 2016
Nations host Balkan Championships Road Master
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2019