International Olympic Committee head praises Georgia

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has praised Georgia for "bravely” overcoming difficulties and making "correct steps in every single situation” at the Sochi Olympic Games.

Georgia’s Olympic strategy was discussed yesterday at a meeting between high officials of Georgia’s Olympic Committee and the IOC.

IOC President Thomas Bach met with the head of the Georgian National Olympic Committee (GNOC) Leri Khabelov and Secretary General Emzar Zeniashvili.

The sides talked for about 30 minutes and discussed several issues.

Bach expressed respect toward the Georgian delegation and noted he had detailed information about the problems accompanied by the team’s arrival in Sochi.

"The Georgian team had a hard time during the 2008 Olympic Games [which coincided with the Georgia-Russian war], then there was Vancouver and the tragedy of Nodar Kumaritashvili. Now we are in Sochi and we are aware of the pressure that you experienced and still experience,” Bach said.

"You bravely overcame the difficulties and made correct steps in every single situation. Of course, the International Olympic Committee sees and appreciates this.”

The group also talked about deceased Georgian luger Kumaritashvili and the construction of his memorial sport facility in his hometown of Bakuriani. Bach expressed his readiness to continue supporting the project, which was started by his predecessor.

In the end of the meeting, Khabelov invited the IOC President to Tbilisi, to mark the GNOC’s 25th anniversary on October 3-5.

Bach recalled his first visit to Georgia in 1997 and said if time allowed, he would definitely attend this "important event”.