Three days before Olympic Festival Tbilisi 2015: Last venue is ready

The last sporting facility for the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) 2015 has opened today - three days before the Festival begins - meaning Tbilisi is officially ready to host the international sporting event.

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili personally opened the new tennis complex in Mziuri Park that was specifically constructed for the EYOF 2015, commonly known as Tbilisi 2015.

The complex included nine open and two closed tennis courts that fully met European standards. It cost 6.5 million GEL to create the new facility. 

At today's opening ceremony PM Garibashvili congratulated all Georgian tennis players and noted they would be able to use the new modern courts.

Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania (L), Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili (C) and EYOF 2015 Chairman Aleksi Akhvlediani open the new tennis venue. Photo by PM's office.

"We are happy that Georgian tennis players will have tennis courts that meet international standards. Many successful players will grow up here. We already have renowned tennis players; just a few weeks ago Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili achieved a very significant success [at Wimbledon]. And this complex is a further incentive and motivation for such people,” said Garibashvili.

Recently Basilashvili made to the third round of Wimbledon, the most prestigious tennis tournament, after defeating the world’s 16^th best singles player Feliciano Lopez.

Moreover, on July 19 the Georgian National Tennis Team were promoted to Group II of the prestigious Davis Cup for the first time in 18 years.

The new sporting complex includes nine open and two closed tennis courts. Photo by PM's office.

The newly opened tennis complex will also host national and international A Class tournaments after Tbilisi 2015 is finished.

The 13th EYOF will open in Tbilisi on July 26 and continue until August 1. Nine sporting codes will be represented at Tbilisi 2015: judo, tennis, artistic gymnastics, cycling, athletics, swimming, volleyball, handball and basketball.

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.