PM Kobakhidze announces increased bonus after Georgia’s first winter olympic medals

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has congratulated athletes Luka Berulava and Anastasia Metelkina on what he described as a historic achievement, stating that each will receive a 500,000 GEL award following Georgia’s first-ever medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

Speaking in Parliament during an interpellation session on Wednesday, Kobakhidze said the victory marked a milestone in the country’s sporting history.

“For the first time in history, our country has won medals at the Winter Olympics, which is a tremendous achievement,” the Prime Minister said. “The success story of Georgian sport continues, and special thanks go to the main architects of this victory - Luka Berulava and Anastasia Metelkina - as well as to their coaches.”

Kobakhidze described the result as a historic triumph that would serve as a foundation for further success in winter sports disciplines.

The Prime Minister noted that under the previously established reward system, a bonus of 500,000 GEL had been allocated per medal for a pair, meaning each athlete would have received 250,000 GEL.

“However, we have made the decision that for this historic victory, each athlete in the pair will receive 500,000 GEL,” Kobakhidze said, citing the significance of the achievement for the country.