Farewell ceremony held for Georgian athletes participating in the European Youth Olympic Festival

A farewell ceremony for the Georgian delegation to the XV European Youth Olympic Festival was held at the National Olympic Committee. The athletes were addressed and wished success by the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Mikheil Batiashvili, and the President of the National Olympic Committee Leri Khabelov. At the end of the ceremony, the athletes took the Olympic oath, which was read by track and athlete Medea Shonia.  

The Olympic Festival will be hosted by Baku from July 21 to 27. The games will bring together 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 49 European countries. The festival program includes a total of 10 sports. The Georgian delegation will compete in 6 sports with 36 athletes. The flag bearer of the delegation will be Giga Tatiashvili, a European champion among youth in judo. The Olympic mission will be led by Giorgi Esakia. Mikheil Grzelidze (wrestling) and Besarion Gamsakhurdia (artistic gymnastics) will officiate at the festival. In 2015, the European Youth Olympic Festival was hosted by Tbilisi, where Georgian athletes won 4 gold and 6 bronze medals. At the 2017 Olympic Festival hosted by Győr, our delegation won 4 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals. The motto of the Georgian Olympic team in Baku is "Better than in Győr".

"This year is truly special in terms of sporting results, just like the past year. There have never been such sporting results and achievements in the history of Georgia. I would like to mention the European Games in Minsk, from where our athletes returned with a record result of 30 medals. This gives us hope that you, as future Olympians, will continue this successful path.

I would also like to mention the historic decision of FIBA Europe, according to which Tbilisi will host the group stage matches of the 2021 European Basketball Championship, which is a momentous event not only for Georgian basketball, but for Georgian sports as a whole. This will create even more opportunities for youth involvement in sports and the development of infrastructure.

The construction of a new sports palace designed for 15,000 spectators is already planned. A number of infrastructure projects are already being implemented and planned in our country. I would like to express my great gratitude to the Olympic Committee, federations, and coaches for their joint work, as a result of which Georgian sports are experiencing significant progress.

I wish you success and bringing joy to Georgian fans!" - stated Mikheil Batiashvili.

Composition of the Georgian Olympic team:

 

Swimming

 

1. Mamuka Shengelia

2. Giorgi Eradze

 

Cycling

 

3. Giorgi Kvabelashvili

4. Giorgi Khorguani

5. Saba Urushadze

 

Tennis

 

6. Katrin Esadze

7. Lizi Dolidze

 

Athletics

 

8. Medea Shonia - Long jump

9. Giorgi Keyinashvili - Shot put

10. Giorgi Khuridze - High jump

11. Nika Bostaghanashvili - Pole vault

12. Maksim Mardasov - 110m hurdles

 

Judo

 

13. Nika Bachiashvili - 50kg

14. Guga Amirkhanashvili - 55kg

15. Kote Kapanadze - 60kg

16. Elguja Chincharashvili - 66kg

17. Giorgi Jantbelidze - 73kg

18. Akaki Japaridze - 81kg

19. Tornike Poladashvili - 90kg

20. Giga Tatiashvili - +90kg

21. Lolita Gabunia - 44kg

22. Diana Gagoshidze-Filkina - 48kg

23. Mariam Lapachishvili - 63kg

24. Gvantsa Somkhishvili + 70kg

 

Freestyle wrestling

 

25. Nikoloz Santeladze - 45 kg

26. Luka Gugeshashvili - 48 kg

27. Otar Mamulashvili - 51 kg

28. Bezhan Barsonidze - 55kg

29. Davit Abdaladze - 60kg

30. Davit Patsinashvili - 65kg

 

Greco-Roman wrestling

 

31. Davit Gvasalia - 45kg

32. Khvichia Abuladze - 48kg

33. Nukri Benidze - 51kg

34. Romeo Beridze - 55kg

35. Nika Broladze - 60kg

36. Nikoloz Margvelashvili - 65kg