The cost of hosting the opening three stages of the Giro d'Italia in Bulgaria reached 48.2 million euros, significantly exceeding initial expectations, according to figures released by Finance Minister Galab Donev in a written response to a parliamentary question.
Early estimates had put the budget at nearly 34 million euros, but the final amount allocated from the state budget increased by almost 50% during preparations. The funding was approved through a series of government decisions, with Donev providing lawmakers with a breakdown of how the money was distributed.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports received 15 million euros to organize the event, while another 8.7 million euros was shared among several institutions, including the ministries of Interior, Regional Development and Public Works, Tourism, Health, and other agencies involved in staging the race and ensuring security and logistics.
The largest share went to the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA), which received a total of 24.5 million euros. The funding was provided through two separate government allocations, initially 5 million euros, followed by an additional 19.5 million euros approved later.
The newly disclosed figures differ sharply from previous expectations. Until recently, it was believed that the RIA's road repair costs amounted to about 10.2 million euros, which would have placed the overall cost of hosting the race at roughly 33.9 million euros. The latest data show public spending was approximately 14.2 million euros higher.
