The Georgian Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling teams have new coaches who will start working on Monday. However, it is not known if coaching staffs of Nugzar Skhireli (freestyle) and Mikheil Saladze (Greco-Roman) will manage to gather the teams. Most sportsmen are not going to enter the gym unless the presidium meets and Luka Kurtanidze resigns from the post.

The both teams suspended practices after the presidium meeting when despite the demand of the sportsmen members of the presidium did not dismiss Kurtanidze from the post. They gave time to Supervisory Board and it must submit a report until November 24.

When Luka Kurtanidze changed coaching staffs a new wave of protests has been launched. Yesterday old coaches Revaz Mindorashvili, Archil Kitiashvili and Davit Pogosian held practices. According to Olympic silver medal winner Davit Modzmanashvili (120 kg), they will not resume practicing unless Luka Kurtanidze is a president of the federation.

Luka Kurtanidze also made a statement: “A lot of explanations have been said about this issue. Each of us has a great responsibility. We are ready to coach those wrestlers who want to defend dignity of our country. The Georgian Championship will be held and winners will participate in international tournaments”.

And in the end, the position of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs:

“The coaching process must be resumed. The athletes should do their job and the federation should act in full compliance”, - Levan Kipiani, minister of Sport, told us.

Vasil Mshvildadze