Canada and Slovakia are injecting $65 million into Georgia

Posted on by Andrew Webb

Canada and Slovakia are injecting $65 million into Georgia to build new sporting infrastructure. It is an unprecedented large scale to develop the country’s ability to host top sporting events and develop the sector.

Georgia pledged to also financially support the initiative, to make this investment go further.

 Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili asked the country’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs to launch a public-private partnership model. That would support the Canadian and Slovakian investment.

 “The state shall not compete with the existing infrastructure. The best partnership model should be found to avoid damaging a competitive environment. This service should be available for the wider society. We should not become the managers of this infrastructure in the long-term” said Kvirikashvili.

 Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Tariel Khechikashvili said that the foreign investment would be hugely beneficial, particularly as Georgia was preparing to host a number of sporting events in 2017, such as the World Rugby U20 Championship.

 He said the investment would assist the country to host high-level tournaments to the highest standards. The investment help develop sports tourism in general.

 “During the last four years more than half billion GEL has been allocated by Georgia to fund sports infrastructure. This is an important gesture of support to the development of Georgian sports,” he said.

   Development of sport infrastructure should play important role in people’s health improvement in Georgia.

By investment Canada and Slovakia, the construction period will last during one year and complete in June 2017. There will employ more than 1000 people.  After exploitation of sport infrastructure will create jobs.

Sport infrastructure will be constructed in Tbilisi and other regions:

  • Multi-functional, double hall sport palaces  in Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori and Telavi;
  • Wrestling House and Sports Medicine Center in Tbilisi (Construction works will start in February with agreement of Government);
  • 20 football and rugby stadium in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi.