Georgia’s remote Tsageri mountain town could soon host international football matches

Big plans are in place to develop sport in a remote town in one of Georgia’s mountain regions thanks to new, high quality facilities that will be capable of hosting international sporting matches.

A modern, high quality sports complex will be built in Tsageri, a small town in western Georgia’s Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region. The plans outline rehabilitating a football stadium, building a new sports complex with a swimming pool and other infrastructure.

New sports complex being built in Tsageri. Photo by the Ministry's press office. 

After the football stadium is rehabilitated, it will meet UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) standards, which means Tsageri could host international football games.

"The size of the stadium meets the standards requested by UEFA. This makes it possible for the town to host international matches for different age categories, and Georgia’s championships too,” said Georgia’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Tariel Khechikashvili.

Khechikashvili and officials from Georgia’s Football Federation visited Tsageri today to inspect the reconstruction of the sports complex and rehabilitation of the stadium.

The stadium rehabilitation project was jointly funded by the region’s local self-government and the Georgian Football Federation while the new sports palace project was covered by the Regional Development Fund.

Gifts from the Sports Minister. Photo by the Ministry's press office. 

Also today Georgia’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs gifted local sportsmen and future sportsmen with various sporting equipment including footballs and rugby balls and sporting outfits.

Since September 1 this year coaches and sports teachers at schools in mountain villages in Tsageri municipality received up to 70 GEL (about $30/€27) per month in addition to their teaching salary.