Georgian Wrestling (Chidaoba) has been added to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, - the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia has said.

According to the Ministry, the decision was made at the 13 th annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The 13th annual meeting waas attended by the Georgian delegation, including Director of the National Agency for Cultural Preservation of Georgia Nikoloz Antidze, Chief Coordinator of the International Relations Unit of the same agency Manana Vardzelashvili, Secretary-General of the Georgian National Commission for UNESCO Ketevan Kandelaki and President of the National Wrestling Federation of Georgia Gela Beruashvili.

“In 2014, the National Agency for Cultural Preservation of Georgia granted Georgian Wrestling the status of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2016, according to the resolution of the Prime Minister, Georgian Wrestling was bestowed with the national category. Afterwards, the given issue was sent to UNESCO, with the objective of inscription of Georgian Wrestling on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Wrestling is the ancient type of sport, which is widespread in Georgia. The wrestling scene on the Alaverdi wall represents it as one of the oldest types of sports practiced in Georgia. The faces of the characters of the scene, their clothes and manners of their movement indicate the traditional Georgian wrestling art. Religious festivals were accompanied by such competitions. Due to this fact, Georgian Wrestling is an expression of the identity of the Georgian nation.

Georgian Wrestling includes almost 200 stratagems and maneuvers, and is classified in six principal fields. Music is an unalienable part of Georgian Wrestling,” the Ministry said.