Information about resignation of Ramaz Paliani, head coach of Georgian boxing team, has spread today. “World Sport” contacted Paliani and Vladimer Akhalkatsi, general secretary of Georgian Boxing Federation.

Both called this information rumor. In spite of this rumor, there is not good situation in Georgian boxing. At London Olympic Games Paliani told me that he could not get in boxing gym because he did not have accreditation. He was not allowed to go near spectator char.

“I managed to watch boxing several times. I used my personal contacts and got a ticket. It would have been better if I had not been in such situation but… Now I continue working. I cannot say what will happen next” – stated Paliani.

As we found out, managers of Georgian Boxing Federation, including Akhalkatsi, did not have accreditation too.

“International Olympic Committee decided the issue of accreditation. As we had only one boxer at the Olympics, we received only one invitation for the coach. Merab Turkadze demanded to take not Paliani but his private coach to London. As for Merab Turkadze was left beyond the ring, it is painful issue for me” – mentioned Akhalkatsi.

At the national Olympic committee we found out that International Olympic Committee sent only one invitation to the coach. Only Petre Tsiskarishvili, president of Georgian Boxing Federation, had accreditation but he did not arrive at the Olympics.
 

Otar Maglakelidze
Photo by Eka Eloshvili