Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Ethnosport Union, attended the final of the Chidaoba World Championship held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Known as Georgian wrestling, Chidaoba is one of the most significant traditional wrestling competitions worldwide, and this year marked the first time the championship was hosted by Georgia.
President Erdoğan participated in the opening ceremony and followed the final matches of the championship. The event was also attended by Georgia’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Shalva Gogoladze. Athletes from 25 countries—including Türkiye, Georgia, and Azerbaijan—competed in the tournament, once again highlighting the unifying power of traditional sports in fostering intercultural exchange.
In his opening remarks, Minister Gogoladze expressed his pride in Georgia hosting the Chidaoba World Championship for the first time and extended his gratitude to President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan for his support.
President Erdoğan stated his pleasure at being in Tbilisi, emphasizing that “Wrestling is not just a sport, but an integral part of Georgian culture.” He underlined the crucial role traditional sports play in preserving cultural values and emphasized that such events strengthen friendship and cooperation among nations.
As part of his visit, President Erdoğan held a bilateral meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at the government headquarters in Tbilisi. The meeting addressed the friendly relations between Türkiye and Georgia, their strategic partnership, and collaboration in the field of sports.
President Erdoğan also met with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili at the Presidential Palace. The discussion focused on enhancing the bond between the two countries, supporting traditional sports through joint initiatives, and fostering broader cultural cooperation.
The World Ethnosport Union continues to expand its global partnerships, aiming to preserve and promote the universal values of traditional sports and pass them on to future generations.
