Salome Zourabichvili: Sport and the Olympics are a symbol of unity and peace and we need these symbols, to need to strengthen these symbols and we need you

We have gone through a very difficult year and years of confrontation - you have a very special role here, because sport and the Olympics are a symbol of unity and peace and we need these symbols, to need to strengthen these symbols and we need you, - President Salome Zourabichvili said in her speech while addressing the Olympic and Paralympic delegations leaving for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As Zourabichvili noted, the country needs to show its dignity in the international arena and the Olympians are responsible for that.

"It is a great honor for me to be here today! And it is a great honor for me to wear your uniform! Because I know what this uniform means, how much work, how much endurance, how many trainings are behind this uniform, and this is the real precondition for the future victory. We went through a very difficult year, a year and a half. This year of the pandemic was probably even more difficult for you, because it is very difficult for an athlete not to be able to participate in competitions, as it hinders the development that is necessary in the sport and for the next victories. You have experienced all this, you have endured all this and the days of the Olympics have now come. Thank you very much for this, Mr. Ambassador, that your country accepted this challenge. We know, it's hard. We know that spectators and supporters will not be present and it is also very difficult when you go out to an empty stadium, but thanks to Japan for being able to do that. We know all over the world how difficult this task was and is. In addition to the pandemic, we have gone through a very difficult year and years of confrontation - you have a very special role here, because sport and the Olympics are a symbol of unity and peace and we need these symbols, to need to strengthen these symbols and we need you”, said the President.