Georgian national wrestling recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Chidaoba has a rich heritage in Georgia both as historical martial art and more recently as sport. Photo: Georgian National Wrestling Federation. 

Agenda.ge, 29 Nov 2018 - 16:37, Tbilisi,Georgia

The art of traditional Georgian wrestling, a major element of the country’s national identity and history, has been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list by a decision of the international body’s committee in Port Louis, Mauritius.

The phenomenon, known in Georgian as chidaoba, was added to the list at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday.

See a Georgian National Wrestling Federation video profile on chidaoba below:

The practice is a complex phenomenon that combines elements of wrestling, music, dance and special garments (‘chokha’)”

[Chidaoba] tournaments take place in an open-air arena, surrounded by a large audience [...] wrestlers attempt to defeat each other through special holds, and vibrant music enhances the dynamics of the contest”, a release by UNESCO said about the national wrestling type.

The organisation’s profile for the heritage element also noted the 200 holds and counter-holds used by wrestlers in the national sport as a testament to their creativity.

Chidaoba received a national status of intangible cultural heritage in Georgia in 2014, prior to its nomination for the UNESCO list.