Today the Organizing Committee for European Weightlifting Championships Tbilisi 2015 held a press conference at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. According to Kakhi Kakhiashvili, chairman of the Organizing Committee, the preparation stage is coming to an end. Hasan Akkus, general secretary of European Weightlifting Federation, visited Tbilisi. He visited Sports Palace and stated everything is done ideally. Levan Kipiani, minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, was to attend the press conference but he was in a legislative session.

Kakhi Kakhiashvili (3-time Olympic champion): “The preparation stage is coming to an end. I want to thank Olympic Committee, government and Tbilisi City Hall for their support. The most important tournament for our country will start on 11 April. The opening ceremony is planned at 15:30. On the first day our weightlifter Ramin Shamilishvili will compete at 20:00. I want to ask fans to come to Tbilisi Sports Palace and support our athletes”.

Zurab Bokolishvili (executive director of the Organizing Committee): “It is very important that we will host European Weightlifting Championships. I want to thank Olympic Committee, Ministry of Sport and sponsors for their support. The general secretary of European Weightlifting Federation is satisfied with the work we have done. I want to ask everybody to come to Tbilisi Sports Palace”.

Hasan Akkus (general secretary of European Weightlifting Federation): “Yesterday I visited Sports Palace and everything is ideally. I want to thank everybody who is involved in the organizing issues”.

Gega Zurabashvili (head of Sports Programs Department of Tbilisi City Hall): “I am sure we will host this tournament at high level. I want to thank everybody who is involved in the organizing issues”.

Tbilisi Sports Palace will host European Weightlifting Championships on 11-18 April. 478 athletes and officials from 38 countries will visit Tbilisi. The Georgian team will have 10 athletes (8 men, 2 women) at the tournament. European Championship will start at 09:00 on 11 April. The opening ceremony will be held at 15:30 and final block will start at 17:00.

The Georgian weightlifting team at European Championship

Men

Ramin Shamilishvili (56 kg)

Giorgi Lomtadze (77 kg)

Irakli Gabrichidze (77)

Nika Nanadze (94)

Davit Gogia (105)

Gia Machavariani (+105)

Giorgi Chkheidze (+ 105)

Women

Tatia Lortkipanidze (63 kg)

Sophio Mukataridze (69)