Promoting sport and a healthy lifestyle is Government’s aim

Georgian National Rugby Team singing along with the national anthem; Photo by N. Alavidze
Agenda.ge, 25 Feb 2014 - 13:12, Tbilisi,Georgia

For the first time in Georgia’s history, a political document will be created to define the state policy for sport and youth affairs.

The Government has begun working on the State Sport Policy document which aimed to increase sport popularity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, Levan Kipiani, summed up the changes at a press conference today.

Kipiani said the State Sport Policy had being created in order to:

  • determine strategies for state sport policy
  • support sport-related elements at Georgia’s general education system
  • develop sport infrastructure in the country
  • and improve sport education and science

In addition, the Government has already begun working on a document surrounding Youth policy too. The Sport Minister said this document aimed to:

  • increase youth engagement
  • increase youth education, employment, and mobility
  • improve youth health
  • and create special support and protection for youth

Kipiani highlighted several important achievements of Georgian athletes during the past two months, including the recent success of the national rugby team who qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 

He also highlighted the success of the Georgian water-polo team who won several important games and was now close to competing in the final phase of the European Championship. The gold and silver medals won by the Georgian Judo team at the Paris Grand Slam competition were also mentioned by Kipiani.

Earlier, the Government announced it had taken steps to support rugby and football development in the country. State funding for rugby increased by 300 percent (to 33 million GEL over the next two years) and the Prime Minister was set to lead a newly created group with the task of developing Georgian football.

In addition, the Ministry of Sport highlighted sporting infrastructure as a priority and noted work on several large projects had started in Tbilisi and regional areas throughout Georgia.