Tbilisi ice arena opens ahead of European Winter Youth Olympics

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, alongside the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Ministers of Regional Development and Infrastructure and Sports, on Friday officially opened the new Tbilisi Ice Arena.The arena is set to host the 2025 European Winter Youth Olympics next month.

During the opening ceremony, Kobakhidze toured the “state-of-the-art facility” and was briefed on the arena’s construction by the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Irakli Karseladze. The Tbilisi Ice Arena will be home to sports such as hockey, figure skating, and curling, and is “poised to become a hub for winter sports in the region”.

“The ice arena was built in just one year, primarily for the Youth Olympic Championship, but it is an infrastructure that will benefit the city and the country for years to come,” said Kobakhidze. “The project was executed with the highest quality, meeting modern standards, and will foster the growth of relevant sports.”

The arena, designed to international standards, features a 700-seat ice rink, training and choreographic halls, as well as medical, recreational, and conference facilities. The ice arena’s advanced technologies and equipment, provided by a Czech company, ensure it meets the latest global standards.

The site was financed with 29.2 million GEL from the state budget.