Georgian PM: Government will hand out prize money for medals won by Paralympic winners similarly as Olympics Games 2024 medal winners

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said Government would hand out prize money for medals won by the all winners at the recently concluded Paralympic Games, similarly to the Olympic team that earned results at the Summer Games earlier this year.

At the welcoming ceremony, held for the Georgian para-athletes at the State Palace of Ceremonies in the capital Tbilisi, Kobakhidze also noted that those competitors who had concluded the Paralympic Games without medals would also be awarded ₾50,000 ($18,539).

He also said the Government would nominate all Paralympic medal-winners from the country for “highest state awards” on Friday.

“It is our special duty to appreciate your success. [...] Together with the Parliament Speaker, we made a decision to give medals to all winners, they are nominated for the highest state awards. Irma Khetsuriani, a wheelchair fencer, is also nominated for the highest state award and coaches for the respective awards”, the head of the Government pointed out.

“Up to 2012, only three athletes took part in the Paralympic Games, while in the Paris Games,14 Paralympians participated, and nine of them returned home with [ ] medals”, he said, adding that the team competition results “are a special pride for us”.

The PM also noted the para-athletics in the country were advancing “very successfully” thanks to the efforts of the Georgian Paralympic Committee and Sports Ministry, emphasising that the Paralympic team had achieved the “best results in history” of Georgia.

The PM  expressed his gratitude to Rati Ionatamishvili, the President of the Paralympic Committee of Georgia, for his “efforts in the development” of para-athletics. He also thanked the technical team, coaches, doctors and everyone who contributed to the team’s victory, adding the “triumph” of the Paralympic athletes was praiseworthy for every Georgian. 

Kobakhidze also thanked Tea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth, and the entire Ministry for the “contribution to the success of the para-athletics and the victory of the athletes”. 

Earlier this week, Kobakhidze announced gold medal winners would be awarded ₾1 million ($370,782,35), silver medal winners would receive ₾500,000 ($185,391,18) and bronze medallists would be granted ₾250,000 ($92,695,59).