ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː, spˈoːɹɾɪst ɐtʃˈiːvd ɪts fˈɜːst ˈɛvɚ pɹəmˈoʊʃən tə ðə bʌlɡˈɛɹiən ɪlˈiːt, ðˈɛn nˈoʊn æz ɐ ɡɹˈuːp, fɚðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː zˈiəɹoʊ θɹˈiː sˈiːzən.
In 2002, Sportist achieved its first ever promotion to the Bulgarian elite, then known as A Group, for the 2002–03 season.