FIS, Georgian Gov’t sign deal for all-year training bases in Svaneti
FIS has highlighted the work done by the Georgian Government for infrastructure development in winter resorts and the successful hosting of the Championships in Bakuriani, which involved about 700 athletes from 42 countries competing in 30 categories. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Training and educational bases operating in all four seasons will be launched in north-west Georgia’s mountainous Svaneti region after the country’s Mountain Trails Agency and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation signed a deal for the project on Thursday.
The agreement comes as Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Michel Vion, the Secretary General of FIS, met to discuss cooperation between the Government and the governing body, with the initial phase to involve technical and financial assessments of the initiative.
A visiting delegation from the Federation travelled to Svaneti to inspect necessary facilities and locations for the prospective bases.
Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said Svaneti would gain more international recognition and attract both domestic and foreign tourists as well as investors with the project, to help grow domestic tourism.
She also pointed out the Gudauri and Bakuriani ski resorts would begin hosting winter tournaments annually at the end of this year - a development she called a “fantastic chance” for the growth and promotion of mountain resorts.
The comments come after the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Vion expressed mutual interest in establishing training bases in Svaneti and provide teams with training conditions for FIS competitions in both ski and freestyle. The meeting came during the Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships that ran in Bakuriani between February 19-March 5.
FIS has highlighted the work done by the Georgian Government for infrastructure development in winter resorts and the successful hosting of the Championships in Bakuriani, which involved about 700 athletes from 42 countries competing in 30 categories.