Those members of Georgian sports delegation who finished competition in Olympic Games returned from London to homeland. Lasha Shavdatuashvili was an exception who will return to Tbilisi with the delegation after the end of Olympics on August 13. The Olympic champion will have to participate in many ceremonial receptions. One of the receptions was held with local Georgians at Georgian House in London yesterday. Ensembles “Shvidkatsa” (“Sevens”) and “Maspindzeli” (“Host”) performed beautiful songs. “Maspindzeli” consists of the British. Founder of this ensemble is my Londoner hostess Lucie Gibson. The ensemble performs the most difficult Georgian provincial songs.

The meeting of 105-year-old Aleksandre Bestavashvili and 20-year-old Olympic champion was very emotional. Bestavashvili, who is also from Gori, like Shavdatuashvili, fled from Georgia at the age of 20 and lives in London since then. He speaks Georgian perfectly.

At the end of the meeting, priest Dorote of Georgian church in London visited the Georgian House. This morning he will host the Olympic champion and the members of the Georgian sports delegation. After the meeting I was going to the tube when I heard Georgian conversation. Three young girls with one little child were coming from the Georgian House. These Georgians living in England are: Irma Daraselia, Nino Izoria and Nino Paikidze. They are parish of that church where liturgy will be held this morning.
 

Otar Maglakelidze from London