TBILISI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The chairman of the Georgian National Olympic Committee (NOC) Leri Khabelov on Saturday reiterated the country's willingness to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Sochi of Russia.
"Georgia is a member of a large and unified Olympic family," said Leri Khabelov, "Georgia recognizes the Olympic Charter and must participate in the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014."
The Georgian Olympics chief said that former authorities of the South Caucasus country were not interested in the Sochi games but the new government of Georgia is doing everything possible to ensure that Georgia take part in the 2014 winter games and Georgia's move has got international support.
The Georgian NOC has already started training its Sochi-bound Olympians and seven of them will receive competition berths in Sochi.
The Georgian prime minister first stated Georgia's willingness to take part in the Sochi Olympics in December last year, shortly after assuming the premier office.
"If we want to have normal relations with Russia, we must take part in the (Olympic) competition and did not give up this chance," said Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
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