At the FIS 51st International Ski Congress held this May at the Costa Navarino resort of Greece, Georgia was unanimously elected a host of the FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships 2023.
Giorgi Ramishvili, a founder of Silk Road Group and a former president of the Georgian Ski Federation, said that this decision is an award for many years of hard work by the Georgian Ski Federation and its sponsors, Silk Road Group (for the previous 10 years) and Silknet (during the recent 10 years):
“We have achieved for Georgia to step in as a member of the international family of the organizers of winter sports world championships. The Georgian Ski Federation together with its general sponsor Silknet has been working for this for quite a long time. However, we saw a successful outcome of our efforts after the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, had personally involved himself in this case. During his meeting with Mr. Gian Franco Kasper, the President of the International Ski Federation, in Saint Moritz, he confirmed the enthusiasm and readiness of the Government of Georgia for the great work that is required for organizing the sports forum of such a dimension and importance. Mr. Prime Minister said at the time: “Be assured that I personally would be a manager of this project.” The FIS leadership clearly saw his commitment to the initiative and his unprecedented support for the development of winter sports in Georgia.
We believe that with joint efforts of all the involved parties we will be able to prepare properly and to hold the world championships successfully. This is now that the real work starts.
And finally, let me congratulate all of you with the 100th anniversary of the Georgian Independence Day.”