One day before the official opening ceremony of Rio 2016 Olympics Giorgi Margvelashvili, president of Georgia, visited the Olympic village and talked to the members of the Georgian delegation. After the end of the official part Margvelashvili had a dinner with them.

Margvelashvili held a mini press conference in one of 31 blocks where besides the Georgians, Czechs, Slovaks, Albanians, Kosovars and the refugee Olympic team live. The president wished good luck to the athletes. Elguja Berishvili, the first vice president of the Georgian National Olympic Committee, and general secretary Emzar Zenaishvili thanked the president for the appreciation. Fencer Sandro Bazadze, trampolinist Luba Golovina and judoka Avtandil Tchrikishvili did the same. Shooter and the GNOC vice president Nino Salukvadze thanked the president and the First Lady for their support after Olympic uniform scandal.

On the way to the dining hall I accidentally found myself in a different group. Francois Hollande, president of France, was the main guest there too. Later, I learnt that the presidents of the two countries met each other accidentally.

Giorgi Margvelashvili will stay in Brazil for two more days and will attend the official opening ceremony and performances of some Georgian athletes. On August 5 archers Khatuna Narimanidze, Kristine Esebua and Yulia Lobzhanidze will participate in the qualifying round. On August 6 Amiran Papinashvili (60 kg) and shooter Tsotne Machavariani will start participating in the Olympics.

After the end of the president’s visit I stayed with the Georgian delegation. Olympic team doctor Zurab Kakhabrishvili gave me some advice about Zika virus. Later, he gave journalists anti mosquito sprays.

Of course, I asked Kakhabrishvili about health condition of the athletes.

“Everybody feels good and is ready for the competition. Fortunately, none of the athletes have serious injury. In my opinion, this Olympics will be very successful for Georgia. We have a chance to win five gold medals and nine medals in total” – Kakhabrishvili told us.

While visiting the Olympic village we learnt about one change in the Georgian delegation – swimmer Irakli Bolkvadze was replaced by Irakli Revishvili.

The Greco-Roman wrestlers and the second group of the weightlifters will join the Georgian delegation within hours. Tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili and freestyle wrestlers will arrive in Rio de Janeiro the last.

Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro