Gudauri Hosts First Diplomatic Ski Competition

GUDAURI – Georgia’s famous ski resort, Gudauri, hosted its first diplomatic ski competition. The Diplomatic Ski Competition was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-organized by the Mountain Resorts Development Agency Ltd under the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, which provided the ski track and necessary equipment for the competition.  

The Diplomatic Ski Competition was held to promote ski tourism in Georgia and encourage trips to Georgia’s ski resorts during the spring. Foreign diplomats serving Georgia, members of the Government, and officials of the Foreign Ministry competed in several categories. Peter Danis, Project Manager of the European Union Delegation to Georgia, won best foreign male diplomat while Barbara Köhler, the spouse of the Swiss Ambassador to Georgia, was winner of the prize for female foreign diplomat. Among Georgian diplomats Irina Klimiashvili (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Shota Brelidze (Georgian National Tourism Administration) won.

The Foreign Minister of Georgia Mikheil Janelidze awarded the winners special cups.

After the Diplomatic Ski Competition in Gudauri, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, the heads of the diplomatic missions and the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Governor opened Gudauri Inn Hotel, which was built as part of the Host in Georgia State Program with an investment of 3,500,000 Gel.

“The hotel was built in just six months under the state program Host in Georgia. This project shows that there is huge potential for private sector business development with the state assistance. The development of ski and mountainous resorts is the priority for the Georgian government, and we are doing our maximum for this goal,” the minister stated.

The newly opened Gudauri Inn Hotel employs 40 locals.

By Thea Morrison