Bakuriani 2023 - the Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships officially opened with a concert on Saturday in Georgia’s winter resort of Bakuriani, which will run through March 5, hosting about 700 athletes from 42 countries competing in 30 categories for seven disciplines.
Photo via Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs
At the grand opening of the World Championship, Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili addressed the participants and visitors, calling the tournament a “truly historic event” and emphasising that Georgia was hosting the “high-level” tournament for the first time.
Davitashvili highlighted the important infrastructure projects and works carried out for the Championship, including the construction of a 29-km artificial snowmaking system with two reservoirs, new cable cars, and six new ski tracks. He stressed the infrastructure would be “useful for years” for the country and Georgia would be a part of the sporting events calendar of the International Ski Federation.
Photo via Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs
Sports Minister Thea Tsulukiani also addressed the audience and thanked the organisers, participants and supporters of the tournament on behalf of the Ministry. She noted the infrastructure in Bakuriani would serve both Georgian and foreign athletes for a “long time” and wished success to all participants of the Championship, especially to Georgian athletes.
Photo via Economy Ministry
The Championship Village has also been opened in Bakuriani, which features Georgian entrepreneurs with various national products and cuisine from different parts of the country, with the support of the Georgian National Tourism Administration.
Winners of Parallel Giant Slalom. Photo via Georgian Ski Federation
The qualifying and final stages of the World Championship are being held today in Parallel Giant Slalom and the Aerials.