GEORGIA'S EMERGENCE ON THE GLOBAL SPORTING STAGE
Georgian sports have been rising steadily on the international stage, showcasing the country's determination and talent across various disciplines. In a nation where rugby has long been considered as the national sport, with a record of 16 European International Championships, it is the emergence and success in other sports taking precedence albeit with the current limited national infrastructure.
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Georgian athletes achieved a more than respectable 24th place in the overall medal standings, further solidifying Georgia's presence in global sports. These accomplishments highlight the country's continued progress and ambition in the world of athletics. This was despite the nation only fielding 28 competitors, with seven of these winning a medal (three gold, three silver & one bronze) at an impressive rate of 0.25 medals per athlete. This was Georgia’s most successful Olympic performance in their history since independence in 1991.
GEORGIA'S FOOTBALLING BREAKTHROUGH
2024 was also a record-breaking year for Georgia’s national football team, as the country made headlines with a historic qualification for the European Championships in Germany, marking a major milestone in the nation's sporting history. Determined not to just make up the numbers, they progressed into the Last 16 of the Tournament before bowing out to eventual winners Spain.
A group stage 2-0 win over Portugal, was one of the more memorable moments of the championships. Their spirited performance in the tournament was spearheaded by Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and exciting shot stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has since made a £29m move to Liverpool, and reflects the growing strength of Georgian football. This was very much a succession from the nation’s performance as joint hosts at the U21 European Championships, where Georgia topped their group which contained Portugal, Netherlands and Belgium.
SPORTSWAY SUMMIT
In September, Elite Skills Arena (ESA) were invited to the Sportsway Summit in Tbilisi, Georgia by Zurab Bokolishvili founder of the BeActiveGe Network. It was a global event, which aimed to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience and innovative solutions for integrating sports and active lifestyle among the urban population. Our Head of Operations Sam Freeman and Sales & Partnership Executive Ryan Warrener were invited as speakers, where they presented information on ‘Revolutionising Sport’ with Advancing Technology with the help of companies like Elite Skills Arena.
Ryan Warrener
“Attending the 2024 Sports Summit in Georgia was an incredible experience. We (ESA) were asked to give a presentation and our discussions focused on emerging technologies in sports. It was clear that the people of Georgia have a deep passion for both their country and sports in particular, expressing the importance the two develop simultaneously. Enhancing infrastructure and advancing research are key priorities for them, and we're excited to continue collaborating with the influential leaders driving the development of sports in the region.”
During our visit, we visited various sports facilities in Tbilisi from Universities, Academies and the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, a 54,000-seater stadium which is home to FC Dinamo Tbilisi alongside the national Football and Rugby teams. We also networked with club owners, organisation leaders and government ministers on how ESA can assist with the development of ‘urban projects’ which will not only improve the public facilities but inspire the next-generation of national stars.
Sam Freeman
"Georgia are clearly already producing incredibly talented athletes, however the vision for the future is to provide the best possible infrastructure and facilities to young people to enable them to compete on the world stage. Hopefully ESA and our equipment can be part of their vision for the future of sport in Georgia."
With the growing success of Georgian sports, particularly football, we’re looking forward to working closely with the country leaders on how our technology can improve the current infrastructure enabling the stars of tomorrow to shine. We also are looking forward to doing business with other contacts we had the pleasure of meeting during our 3-day visit.
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