Inter Milan Vice President visits Tbilisi, highlights importance of UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Zanetti also responded to Agenda.ge’s question regarding the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship to be co-hosted by Georgia in June, saying that it is a “big challenge” and it will “contribute to increasing” the level of football in the country. Photo via Inter Academy Georgia
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The legendary Argentinian captain of Milan's famed FC Internazionale club, currently the club's Vice President, Javier Zanetti, along with the delegation, on Friday arrived in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on a two-day visit.
Zanetti commenced his visit with a special training session for 500 children signed up to the Inter Academy Georgia - a local offshoot of the Academy of Inter Milan launched in 2021 in collaboration with Tbilisi's New Vision University.
Photo via Inter Academy Georgia
The Inter Vice President also met the media and attended a traditional gala dinner with key local institutions. Zanetti inspected the infrastructure of Inter Academy Georgia together with the rector of New Vision University, Davit Kereselidze and the Director of the Academy Anna Tsereteli.
Zanetti thanked representatives of New Vision University for their hospitality, noting that the foundation of the Academy in Georgia in 2021 was an important step for Inter. "I am sure we will be able to do many good things together. My presence here is proof that the cooperation is developing well", Zanetti said.
It's a special feeling to experience first-hand the excitement that the Georgian children feel when they put on the Inter jersey. Inter Academy Georgia embodies the values that have always underpinned the club in terms of educating new generations coming through, and this is why it is an even bigger pleasure to be here to celebrate the resounding success of this project", he noted.
Photo via Inter Academy Georgia
At the press conference, Agenda.ge asked him what he would advise Georgian teenagers who are just becoming interested in football. "Never stop dreaming and live with sports values until the end”, he said, adding “I was shaped by this kind of attitude".
Zanetti also responded to Agenda.ge’s question regarding the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship to be co-hosted by Georgia in June, saying that it is a “big challenge” and it will “contribute to increasing” the level of football in the country.
On Saturday, Zanetti awarded Inter Milan Academy and Saburtalo FC youth teams at the second edition of the Italian Embassy Cup, organised annually in cooperation with the International Foundation of Sport, Tourism and Youth of Georgia. The Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, Enrico Valvo, stressed that Zanetti’s presence was “especially appreciated” by young people participating in the Italian Embassy Cup.
The second edition of the Italian Embassy Cup ????celebrated the strong friendship in the field of football between Italy and Georgia, with a very special guest, @Inter’s Vice President and former captain @javierzanetti. To know more ???? https://t.co/iK28eSBzpz pic.twitter.com/8a1n6VPniC
— Italy in Georgia (@ItalyinGeorgia) April 23, 2023
Zanetti also visited the Embassy of Italy in Tbilisi, gifting a unique black and blue commemorative jersey to the Embassy.
Photo via Italy in Georgia/Instagram
The official website of Milan Inter responded to Zanetti's visit to Tbilisi saying “Inter are continuing to run initiatives to celebrate the presence of the Nerazzurri brand in various countries all around the world”.
Irakli Karseladze, the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure and the Georgian Football Federation President Levan Kobiashvili on Saturday discussed the preparation process for holding the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Georgia with the delegation of the Union of European Football Associations.
The tournament trophy of the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship will start its journey from Georgia’s Black Sea coastal city of Batumi across the country before ending up in the capital city of Tbilisi to mark the country’s co-hosting of the competition, the Government of the Black Sea region of Adjara announced on Friday.
A five-a-side tournament involving football academies in Georgia is being hosted by the Embassy of Italy and the International Foundation of Sport, Tourism and Youth in capital Tbilisi.
Georgia is now the latest spot on world map where Inter Academy - an institution by Milan's famed FC Internazionale football club - begins to operate, with young people set to be offered both academic and sports education at the school opening in collaboration with Tbilisi's New Vision University.
Gianni Infantino, the President of the International Association Football Federation, on Wednesday praised Levan Kobiashvili, the President of the Georgian Football Federation, for playing a “central role” in the country co-hosting the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last year.