Georgia “fully prepared” to host UEFA European Under-21 Championship - PM
The PM outlined other “significant projects” completed in the city under the Renewed Regions programme, which has been in effect since 2021, and revealed plans to start renovating Kutaisi and its historic areas under a 200 million ($76 million) investment. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the country was “fully prepared” to host the UEFA European U21 Championship “with dignity and at the highest level”, while visiting the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in the western city of Kutaisi, one of the venues renovated for the purpose of hosting matches of the tournament.
Garibashvili highlighted the importance of the Championship and said organising such a “significant” event was both a “huge challenge” and an “enormous honour”, in comments for former athletes, current professional football players, MPs, Government officials and local residents in the city.
Designated among facilities to host matches of the tournament, the venue has been equipped with an irrigation and drainage system, and a pitch of UEFA standards. It also has seen installation or updates to its systems for heating, cooling and security, as well as new seating and LED advertising panels. The project has also involved construction of an administrative building for the venue.
Garibashvili said 10 venues had been renovated for hosting the tournament over the past year, with ₾115 million ($44 million) spent on their rehabilitation. In the budget, ₾35 million ($13 million) was allocated for works on the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium.
He also mentioned the renovated Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, which he inspected earlier today, noting the facilities were updated according to “modern standards”.
I am aware of this city's extremely rich heritage. We regard football very seriously, especially in Kutaisi. This is only the beginning. We have additional large-scale projects that are planned”, he told locals.
Today we will also take a look at the new Olympic-standard swimming pool, which we completed in about two years’ time. We started construction on June 9, 2021, and today we will be able to jointly open this new swimming pool”, he noted.
The PM outlined other “significant projects” completed in the city under the Renewed Regions programme, which has been in effect since 2021, and revealed plans to start renovating Kutaisi and its historic areas under a 200 million ($76 million) investment.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili with local citizens Photo: Government Administration
He also revealed the former Parliament building in the city would be converted into a technology hub and serve as a gathering place for young people working in the IT industry, as well as a “multipurpose, innovative city and base” where “many young people” would gather.
We are gradually renovating the cities, beautifying them, and we want to transform our state, our country into [having] European-type, modern, well-kept, beautiful cities, districts and villages. This is our common goal. Most importantly, of course, all this would not be possible if there was no peace [...] Peace is the key”, the PM said.
"We have managed to maintain peace, we have stability and development, and all that we have been able to do is the merit of peace and the merit of our correct policy", the official added before wishing success to hosts and participants of the upcoming sporting event.
Public infrastructure in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi is being renovated under the ongoing Renewed Regions state programme, the Government Administration announced on Tuesday.
The port city of Poti on western Georgia’s Black Sea coast has seen updates to its public infrastructure as part of an ongoing state programme that has been running since 2021, the Government Administration announced on Thursday.
Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze on Tuesday said he was “proud to say” the country was “fully prepared” to host matches of the upcoming UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday inspected the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, which has been rehabilitated to host the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Wednesday visited newly renovated Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in the western city of Kutaisi, one of five renovated venues that will host matches of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the west of the country this summer.
Ten sports facilities have been built or renovated across Georgia for hosting the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this summer, the Ministry of Infrastructure said on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday announced the launch of a ₾1 billion ($398mln), five-year programme for renovation and development of infrastructure across the country.
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.
Georgia will host the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Irakli Karseladze, the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, revealed on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday visited sports facilities built and renovated in the country’s western hub city of Kutaisi, including the Academy of the Georgian Football Federation and the Olympic swimming pool.
Promotion of Taekwondo in Georgia and abroad was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Chungwon Choue, the World Taekwondo President.
Batumi Stadium in Georgia’s Black Sea city has received a prize promoted as a “real estate Oscar” for best public infrastructure, the regional Government of Adjara announced on Friday.
The Georgian U21 national football team on Wednesday defeated Portugal 2:0 in the opening match of the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship, held at the Dinamo Arena stadium in the country’s capital city of Tbilisi.
The Georgian U21 national football team on Saturday ended in a draw with Belgium 2:2 in the second match of the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship, held at the Dinamo Arena stadium in the country’s capital city of Tbilisi.
A stray dog ran into the Dinamo Arena stadium in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi, “interrupting” the match of the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship between Georgia and the Netherlands.
The Georgian U21 national football team on Tuesday ended in a draw with the Netherlands 1:1 in the last match of the group stage of the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time in history.
The Georgian national team's draw with the Netherlands on Tuesday, and the squad’s advancement to the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Under-21 European Championship received attention from European media outlets.
Three football professionals from Georgia will join committees at the UEFA following selections that came along with the European governing body’s recognition of the country’s organisational efforts for the sport.
Aleksander Čeferin, the UEFA President, on Friday expressed his “sincere” gratitude to the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for his “invaluable contribution” to making the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship “an outstanding success”, as the tournament was co-hosted in Georgia with Romania between June 21-July 8.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said he was proud that Georgia had held the UEFA 2023 Under 21 European Championship “very well”, thanking everyone involved and emphasising the Georgian national team had performed “admirably, very strongly”.