FIRST LADY CUP IN GEORGIA

Georgian National Federation

Tbilisi, Georgia, November 15, 2005. On Friday, 11th November 2005 the “First Lady Cup” encounter was held between the Western and Eastern part of Georgia in the sports palace of Tbilisi (GEO) in honour of the president of the Georgian Republic Mikheil Saakashvili and his wife Mrs. Sandra Roelofs.

Being the honorary president of the Georgian Volleyball Federation since January 2005, Mrs. Sandra Roelofs attended the game which was won by the West in straight sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-19).
The encounter was broadcast live on national Channel 1, receiving a huge interest from media.

“This game is very important for the young people of Georgia”, stated Mrs. Roelofs, “I am ready to help the national federation in view of developing volleyball and increasing the number of young people taking part in order to keep them away from drugs, crime and street life. The president of the Georgian Volleyball Federation, Mr. Levan Akhvlediani, is very satisfied with the current development of volleyball and beach volleyball in Georgia. As honorary president I will support the search for sponsors for volleyball activities in view of being able to host international competitions in the future.”

Mr. Akhvlediani commented: “In the past years the number of young people joining volleyball has increased tenfold. Further, the mayor of Tbilisi has offered a gym which lies in the centre of the town especially for the use of volleyball. Volleyball is the only sport which possesses national teams in both genders with the men’s as well as the women’s national team participating at the forthcoming Senior European Championships 2006/07.”