The administration of President Salome Zourabichvili announced on Thursday that members of Georgia’s national football team and representatives of the Football Federation will be honored with an Order of Honor and a medal. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in September at the Orbelian Palace.
In a statement, the administration explained the procedure, noting, “according to standard practice, the President of Georgia issues the act of awarding a few days before the awards are presented. This was the case on May 23, 2024, when President Zourabichvili issued decrees (n:23/05/02 and n:23/05/01) to award the nominated individuals with an Order of Honor and a medal”.
Initially, an official ceremony was planned for the end of May, but it was postponed due to the absence of the national team members from Georgia. The next gathering of the national team in Georgia is expected in early September, at which time President Zourabichvili will present the awards.
The exact recipients of the Order of Honor and the medals have not yet been disclosed.
The awards were recommended by the government on March 27, in accordance with the Law “On State Awards and Premiums of Georgia.” The list includes:
Members of the Georgian Men’s National Team:
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Giorgi Loria
Luka Gugeshashvili
Solomon Kverkvelia
Saba Sazonov
Guram Kashia
Giorgi Gvelesiani
Lasha Dvali
Luka Lochoshvili
Otar Kakabadze
Giorgi Gocholeishvili
Vladimir Mamuchashvili
Levan Shengelia
Giorgi Tsitaishvili
Otar Kiteishvili
Nika Kvekveskiri
Giorgi Chakvetadze
Sandro Altunashvili
Giorgi Kochorashvili
Jaba Kankava
Anzor Mekvabishvili
Zuriko Davitashvili
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Giorgi Mikoutadze
Budu Zivzivadze
Giorgi Kvilitaia
Coaches of the Georgian Men’s National Team:
Vili Sanioli
Adel Shedli
Zurab Khizanishvili
Davit Gvaramadze
Irakli Chitauri
Levan Zamtaradze
Fabien Bossuet
David Webb
Representatives of the Georgian Football Federation:
Levan Kobiashvili, President
David Mujiri, Secretary General
Kakha Chumburidze, First Vice-President
Nikoloz Jgharkawa, Vice-President
Aleksandre Iashvili, Vice-President
Akaki Aladashvili, Vice-President
Zaza Zamtaradze, Technical Director
Staff of the Georgian Men’s National Team:
Giorgi Katsitadze
Vladimer Dvalishvili
Davit Kharabadze
Giorgi Changelia
Mikheil Abramishvili
Giorgi Bzhalava
Tengiz Gulbiani
Giorgi Kochladze
Grigol Lezhava
Gela Guchua
Giorgi Ngugadze
Konstantine Tedeluri
Additionally, the administration responded to remarks made by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who expressed regret that the President had not yet responded to the submission of football players and federation officials for the Order of Merit. The President’s administration clarified, “today, misinformation was spread, suggesting that the President refuses to award the members of the national football team and the representatives of the national football federation”.
The Georgian national team earned the Order of Honor after defeating Greece in a penalty shootout during the final match of the qualifying playoff, securing their place in the European Championship for the first time in history.