A total of 1,500 people attended an Opening Ceremony evoking the rich history of the host country and its regional characteristics through traditional Georgian dance.

The national anthem of Georgia was sung by renowned tenor Paata Burchuladze as the dancers left the stage, while the flags of the 50 participating European National Olympic Committees were raised.

This was followed by the parading of the athletes, who were welcomed by Tbilisi 2015 chairman Aleksi Akhvlediani and European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey.

An aerial acrobat ascended out of a decorative mountain to hand the Olympic Flame over to Gela Ketashvili, a member of the Soviet Union’s Olympic gold medal-winning football team at Seoul 1988.  

Final Torchbearer Zurab Zviadauri, a gold medallist for Georgia in the men’s 90 kilograms judo competition at Athens 2004, then proceeded to light the Stadium's Olympic Flame.

Also in attendance at the Opening Ceremony was European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen, who praised the Tbilisi 2015 Organising Committee.

“From what I have seen in the last few days of preparation for the European Youth Olympic Festival and tonight at the Opening Ceremony, I am confident that the event will be great success, and I want to congratulate those responsible,” said the Norwegian.

“It is very encouraging for us as the Athletics Federation of Georgia, under the leadership of President Alex Akhvlediani, will organise the inaugural European Athletics Youth Championships in 2016 in the host city of Tbilisi.”

Ahead of the event, Hansen attended a World Athletics Leaders Seminar at which he underlined the importance of the EYOF for the development of young people in sport.

Hansen was joined by Akhvlediani and vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, Sergey Bubka, at the seminar.

The President also met with Georgia’s Vice-Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as well as Mayor of Tbilisi Davit Narmania, and Sports Minister Tariel Khechikashvili to discuss the development of athletics in the country.

“Alongside European Athletics vice-president Dobromir Karamarinov, we had very productive discussions about the rapid progress we have seen in Georgia, in terms of the infrastructure for our sport and in hosting our events,” said Hansen.

“We are confident that European Athletics, the Athletics Federation of Georgia and the local authorities will be able to work well together moving ahead and ensure that our sport continues to grow in the country.”

The 13th edition of the Summer EYOF runs until Saturday (August 1) with 3,500 young athletes competing in nine sports - athletics, basketball, cycling, gymnastics, handball, judo, swimming, tennis and volleyball.


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