Prime Minister's address to Olympic athletes

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated Georgia's Olympic athletes and said it was a "great honour" to participate in an Olympic competition. 

Earlier today Garibashvili released an official statement which said he was proud Georgian athletes had reached Olympic standards and participate in the highest level of competition alongside the world’s top sportsmen.

Participation in the 2014 Olympic Games is Sochi instill special emotions into us, as this Olympics is held near the border between Georgia and Russia, in close proximity to the occupied region of Abkhazia. It proved very difficult to make a decision on our participation in the Olympics. Nonetheless, we considered various factors and made this decision for the benefit of Georgian sports and our athletes, for the benefit of Georgia’s national interests.|/

In his address, the PM wished the best success to the Georgian athletes. He also said it was not a good idea to politicize sport.

"By participating in the Sochi Olympic, Georgia shows its goodwill and takes another steps towards the international community and Olympic movement in general,” he said.