Bernard Lapasset the chairman of International Rugby Board promised that his organization will do its best Georgia to have right of hosting high class tournaments.
The leadership of IRB mentioned U-20 World Cup which is held annually. Jean-Claude Baqué the president of European Association also stated that Georgia will have right to host one of the age category European Championship.
The leadership of World Rugby started holding official meeting since morning. In the morning they met Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Lado Vardzelashvili, Gia Nizharadze a chairman of Georgian Rugby Union was with them. Before the meeting Lado Vardzelashvili stated that the aim of the meeting is that guests have to know progress of Georgian rugby. After the meeting Lapasset stated the following:
“This meeting was very important for me. It is very important that government does its best for sport developing. It has decisive meaning. As far as we know, Georgia is ready for hosting big tournaments. We will continue supporting for developing this kind of sport in your country. We are ready for financial support. IRB and FIRA will invest maximum sum of money in your country, for having possibilities to hold high class tournaments”.
As for Lado Vardzelashvili, he promised the leadership of World Rugby that government will do its best for developing this kind of sport. After this meeting Gia Nizharadze showed the facility of Georgian Rugby Union and went to their base for holding official opening ceremony.
Nika Gilauri the Prime-Minister of Georgia met them at the base of “Shevardeni”. They saw base with natural-lawn owning stadium. Lapasset talked to children who were having training there. The natural-lawn stadium of the base was built with financial aid of IRB and other works were done by help of “Kartu”.
Tribunes are ready for spectators, there are standard international lamp posts, there are rooms for coaches and changing rooms, training room is also well equipped and ready. The only thing what is not ready is 50-man hotel, which is being built.
Nika Gilauri the Prime-Minister of Georgia stated the following:” natural-lawn stadium was made by help of IRB, the leadership of Rugby Union looked after other things and finally we have modern standard complex. Georgian government has special project for helping this kind of sport and it is being developed day by day. This kind of sport is very popular in Georgia and government is going to play its role in rugby developing in the future also. We are planning to build 18 such complexes, now we are discussing with our guests task of having right to hold U-20 World Cup in Georgia”.
Lapasset confirmed information about increasing financial aid by making such statement after visiting this base:” I ensured once more that our financial aid is spent well and we will increase our aid. The exact place for holding the U-20 World Cup 2011 is not decided yet. To hold such tournament needs support from government and we see that’s it so here. We are surprised and we will try in each case to give Georgia chance of hosting high class tournament”.
Prime-Minister of Georgia had talk with Lapasset and he was informed what is necessary to host such tournament. In spite of this, the head of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava and Davit Tkeshelashvili a chairman of President Administration talked to the leadership of World Rugby. Jean-Claude Baqué stated the following after visiting “Shevardeni” base:” It is not my first visit in Georgia and I was paying attention of building process. Finally I made sure that rugby development is taken care in Georgia. The main attention is paid to U-18 and U-19 National Teams and it is visible in their success. There is big chance Georgia to host U-19 or other age category European Championship in the nearest future. There are all necessary conditions for it here”.
Zura Ksovreli
