Gori Hosts First Regional Basketball Development Conference

The city of Gori recently hosted the inaugural regional basketball development conference, organized by the Regional Development Department of the Georgian Basketball Federation. This landmark event brought together representatives from all 12 regions of Georgia, including presidents of regional basketball federations, to address issues critical to the development of basketball across the country.

Under the leadership of Shalva Oniani, the former manager of age-group teams, the department has been actively promoting basketball in the regions. Over the past few years, Oniani and his team, often accompanied by Federation Vice-President Nikoloz Tskitishvili, have toured every region of Georgia, delivering basketball equipment such as backboards, scoreboards, balls, uniforms, and other essential items. In April of last year, Federation President Viktor Sanikidze joined the delegation on visits to the Racha-Lechkhumi, Kvemo Svaneti, and Imereti regions.

The Gori conference marked a new phase for the regional development initiative, introducing a format that includes periodic meetings of regional basketball federation heads. These meetings aim to facilitate the sharing of projects and plans, discussion of pressing topics, and the planning of future events.

Held at the charming “Old District” hotel, the conference saw participation from key figures including Gori Vice Mayor Tamaz Shioshvili, who is a strong advocate for basketball development in the city. The conference also welcomed Ilya Jolbord, President of the Super League club Gori Iverion, along with coaches and representatives from the local basketball school.

The attendees of the regional basketball development conference included:

Soso Yagorashvili, President of the Kakheti Basketball Federation

Lika Kajaya, Vice-President of the Abkhazia Basketball Federation

Aleko Kistauri, President of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Basketball Federation

Giorgi Japaridze, President of the Racha-Lechkhumi Basketball Federation

Shalva Oniani, President of the Svaneti Basketball Federation

Giorgi Kerdikoshvili, President of the Shida Kartli Basketball Federation

Giorgi Beroshvili, Vice-President of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Basketball Federation

Beka Bekaia, President of the Samegrelo Basketball Federation

Mikheil Beruashvili, Vice-President of the Basketball Federation

Buba Kvimsadze, President of the Imereti Basketball Federation

Lasha Toidze, President of the Guria Basketball Federation

The conference was productive, with participants expressing satisfaction with the discussions and outcomes. Plans for the second conference are already underway, and upcoming visits by Federation representatives to the regions will continue to provide basketball schools with essential inventory.

The National Basketball Federation extends its gratitude to the Gori Municipality City Hall, Iverion Basketball Club President Ilia Jolbord, Shida Kartli Basketball Federation President Giorgi Kerdikoshvili, and the “Old District” hotel for their invaluable assistance in organizing this successful first regional basketball conference.