La Gazzetta di Milano meets Shalva Gogoladze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia
Mr. Minister, today we are in Istanbul for the opening of the 8th International Ethnosport Festival. What is the main purpose of your visit?
It is truly encouraging to see an Ethnosport Festival of such scale being organized. The main objective of the festival — the preservation, development, and transmission of traditional sports and games to future generations — is also a priority for the Ministry of Sports of Georgia. Georgia is distinguished by its rich tradition of national sports, and promoting them internationally while introducing them to a wider audience remains one of our key priorities. In addition, it is always very interesting and valuable to learn more about the cultures and traditions of other countries.
Your country’s national sport is traditional Georgian wrestling. What significance does it hold for the Georgian people?
For us, Georgian wrestling is much more than just a sport. It is a centuries-old tradition that truly reflects the identity of Georgia and the Georgian people. There is also historical evidence showing that Georgian wrestling is depicted in medieval Georgian frescoes. One notable example is the fresco at Alaverdi Monastery, where wrestlers are portrayed with elements characteristic of traditional Georgian wrestling. This confirms its centuries-long history and cultural significance.
In 2018, traditional Georgian wrestling — Chidaoba — was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Last year, Tbilisi hosted the first Open World Championship in Georgian Wrestling, which also included athletes from Italy competing in Kurash and traditional wrestling disciplines. What international impact did this competition have?
Georgian wrestling is the foundation of many Georgian athletes’ success. It is part of our genetic code and naturally complements modern combat sports such as Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and judo.
Last year, for the first time in history, the World Championship in Georgian Wrestling was held, bringing together athletes from 25 countries. The championship was organized at the highest level and received excellent evaluations from international participants and guests. Through this sport, even more people around the world became familiar with our country and our culture.
What can you tell us about the overall development of sports in Georgia, and what are the Ministry’s main priorities and initiatives?
Last year, Georgian athletes won 1,935 medals at various international tournaments across different sports disciplines, including 752 gold, 610 silver, and 573 bronze medals. From last year up to the present day, Georgia has proudly hosted nearly 30 international tournaments, including European and World Championships. These figures clearly demonstrate the current level of Georgian sport and the distinguished place our country occupies on the global sporting map.
The Ministry of Sports of Georgia continuously supports athletes and is creating appropriate infrastructure for every sport discipline. The development of Georgian sport and increasing mass participation in sports are among the priorities of the Government of Georgia.
By governmental initiative, multifunctional sports complexes have already been built in four cities across Georgia, and within the next four years, similar complexes will be constructed in all 64 municipalities of the country. These multifunctional sports complexes will provide young people with all the necessary sports facilities, equipment, and spaces to help develop even more successful athletes for our country.
Finally, what role can traditional sports — especially traditional wrestling — play in strengthening international relations and cooperation between countries?
I often say that athletes are the best ambassadors. They continuously introduce our country, our anthem, and our flag to the world. As I mentioned earlier, Georgian wrestling is a true expression of our identity.
I am confident that this traditional Georgian sport will play an even greater role in helping different nations become more familiar with each other’s cultures and traditions, while also strengthening international friendship and cooperation.
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