First time in history: Olympic Flame enters Tbilisi

The Olympic Flame has entered Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi for the first time in the city’s history.

In eight days thousands of the world’s best young athletes, their coaches and supporters will come to Tbilisi for the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) 2015.

The Olympic Flame was welcomed to Tbilisi by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, his two sons and several Government Administration members at Freedom Square in central Tbilisi yesterday.

The Olympic Flame official welcoming ceremony to Tbilisi. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

"Today is a wonderful day,” the PM said in his welcoming speech.

"Two months ago when Georgia celebrated its very special day, Independence Day, the Olympic Flame was lit in the Olympic capital Athens and it was meant for our capital city Tbilisi.”

The PM said Tbilisi was ready to host "one of the most special sporting events” and he believed Georgian athletes would achieve success at the competition.

A large public concert was held last night to celebrate the arrival of the Flame.

Tbilisi is ready to host the 13th EYOF. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Before entering Tbilisi, the Olympic Flame traveled across the country and visited 67 municipalities, carried by 700 torch bearers.

The 13th EYOF will open in Tbilisi on July 26 and continue until August 1. The Flame will remain in the Georgian capital until the end of the event.

Nine sporting codes will be represented at Tbilisi 2015: judo, tennis, artistic gymnastics, cycling, athletics, swimming, volleyball, handball and basketball.

Tbilisi 2015 volunteers. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Almost 3,500 young athletes from 49 nations will visit Tbilisi for the EYOF, which will be covered by more than 300 international and local media outlets. As well as organisers, more than 2,000 volunteers aged 17-78 will take part in the event.