18 Dec 2013 14:44

Georgian premier: sport must not be related to politics

TBILISI. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has reaffirmed the readiness of Georgian athletes to take part in the Sochi Games and said it is impermissible to link sport to politics.

"Our athletes will take part in the Olympic events because sport must be free from politics," the premier said in his opening remarks at the 42nd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Tbilisi on Wednesday.

As to Georgia-Russia relations, Garibashvili said "Georgia had taken its first steps towards normalization with Russia" although some of the Georgian lands were still occupied. In his words, the steps taken in trade, the economy and culture would be continued.