From FILA website It is with great sorrow that FILA announces the death of Professor Raiko Petrov of Bulgaria at the age of 81. Born in 1930 in Slivovitsa, Veliko Tarnovo region, Mr. Petrov studied at the Bulgarian National Sports Academy and later occupied important professoral functions. He dedicated his life to wrestling and prepared the first Bulgarian champions during the 15 years he spent as national coach. His contribution to the rise of Bulgarian wrestling was considerable and he participated in 12 Olympic Games as coach and official. During his career, Professor Petrov became President of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, Vice-president of the Bulgarian Union of Physical Culture and Sport, Member of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, Director of the Institute of Psychology within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Professor of the "wrestling-judo" chair at the Bulgarian National Sports Academy, and member of the Executive Committee of the World Sports Science Union. He was inducted at the FILA Hall of Fame and received the Golden Necklace. In 2005, Raiko Petrov was awarded by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations for his contribution to the development of world wrestling. Raiko Petrov published over 350 scientific articles and 67 books dealing with various scientific issues, such as theory and methodology of wrestling, pedagogy, psychology, biomechanics, sports history, etc. Many of his works received broad international recognition and were translated into English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Iranian, Romanian, Serbian, Polish, Hebrew, Hungarian, and other languages. His most renown books were published by FILA in English and French: Principles of Freestyle Wrestling for Children and Adolescents (1977), Children on the Mat (1978), Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling (1986), Olympic Wrestling Throughout the Millennia (1993), The ABC of Wrestling (1996), 100 Years of Olympic Wrestling (1997), The Roots of Wrestling (2000). His latest work, Wrestling in Selected Works of World Litterature, was publised in 2010. FILA and its National Federations lose a great advocate of wrestling whose contribution was priceless and convey their condolences to Mrs. Petrova, to their family, and to the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation. According to the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, services for Professor Raiko Petrov will be held on Monday, February 21, at Orthodox Cemetery St Archangel Michael - Sofia, Boyana, Str Boyana Park â„– 4 at 14.00 hrs. (2:00 p.m.) From Bulgarian Wrestling Federation website (with Google Translate) Prof. Raiko Petrov has died. He was an honorary vice president of the International Wrestling Federation (FILA), and for many years a member of the Bureau of FILA. For 20 years as president of the Bulgarian federation, and 15 years led the national team in freestyle wrestling. As a coach and sports figure has participated in 12 consecutive Olympiads. Professor Petrov has published over 300 scientific publications, 62 of them are books. Many of his works were published or translated into French, English, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, Italian, Persian, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Hebrew and other languages. Raiko Petrov was inducted into the international hall of fame wrestling in Oklahoma (USA). He has also worked in the Executive Committee of the World Council for Science and Sport of UNESCO. Professor Petrov has won various national and international awards, and in 2005 was awarded the prestigious IOC and AGFIS (General Assembly of International Sports Federations) honors for significant contribution to wrestling globally.