Georgia’s Olympic team set to fly to Sochi

The first part of Georgia’s Olympic team attending the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will arrive in Sochi tomorrow, February 4.

Georgian National Olympic Committee vice-President Mamuka Khabareli and Secretary in General Emzar Zeniashvili are set to depart Georgia and arrive in Sochi to manage organisational issues before the rest of the Georgian Olympic team arrived in the Russian city.

The main group of Georgia’s Olympic team, including athletes, will travel to Sochi on February 6 – one day before the international competition begins.

Georgia will be represented at the Sochi Olympics by four athletes: skiers Nino Tsiklauri, Iason Abramishvili and Alex Benianidze. Figure skater Elene Gedevanishvili will arrive in Sochi on February 14 from Canada.

Tsiklauri has been given the honour of Georgia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

A statement by the Georgian Olympic Committee said Georgia was sending a team of 19 people to Sochi. These included four athletes, Olympic Committee President Leri Khabelovi and 14 other Committee members.

The head of the mission in the Olympic Village will be Committee vice-President Mamuka Khabareli, the statement read.

Georgian Olympic Committee noted that the delegation will travel to Sochi on direct flights, beginning tomorrow.

In the meantime, Georgian Government officials have refused to travel to Sochi to attend the Games.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani said Georgia would send a consular representative to Sochi with the framework of Swiss Interests Section.

He noted that Georgia would not be able to take security measures similar to what it took to France or Britain, as Georgia did not have diplomatic relations with Russia.

"However, organisers assured us that Georgian athletes are in no danger. Georgia’s consular representative will stay in Sochi until the end of Olympic Games and act according to our laws. Territorially, he will be on the Swiss Section territory because Switzerland is our Interests Section in Russia,” Zalkaliani said.

He also stressed that the consular representative would work for 24 hours. Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the entire Georgian Olympic team would have access to numerous "hot-lines” at all times for assistance if needed.

Debate surrounding Georgia’s participation in the Sochi Olympic Games intensified after Russia decided to make military pilot Ivan Nechayev one of 13,990 torch bearers, who are part of the 123-day Olympic torch relay across Russia before it reaches Sochi in February. Nechayev received a hero’s award for safely landing a damaged aircraft during the August 2008 War with Georgia.

Discussions ended with the Georgian Government refusing to send a Governmental delegation to the Sochi Games, which will take place from February 7 to 23, 2014.