Empowering the Kakheti Region: Modern Basketball Scoreboard and New Opportunities for Akhmeta’s Youth

The Georgian National Basketball Federation continues to roll out its large-scale regional development project, aiming to upgrade local sports infrastructure and promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth. Now in its fourth consecutive year, this program has been consistently expanding year after year, providing stable and structured support to various corners of the country. The driving force behind this initiative is a close partnership with the FIBA Youth Development Fund. The national federation matches the financial resources received from the international governing body by doubling the amount from its own budget. The state-of-the-art equipment acquired through this funding is then distributed fairly and completely free of charge to towns and villages across Georgia where basketball is actively played.

This time, the program’s latest scheduled working visit took place in the Kakheti region, specifically in the town of Akhmeta. Federation officials presented the local sports school with a vital upgrade: a modern, FIBA-standard electronic basketball scoreboard, complete with 24-second shot clocks, alongside a brand-new backboard. This material and technical advancement will fundamentally elevate the quality of training sessions and games, allowing Akhmeta’s young athletes to hone their skills in an environment that mirrors professional standards.

A high-level delegation from the federation arrived in Akhmeta for the occasion. The visiting group included Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Vice-President of the Georgian Basketball Federation; Shalva Oniani, Head of the Regional Department; federation officials Aleko Petriashvili, Mate Antia, and Irakli Pertaia; as well as Soso Iagorashvili, President of the Kakheti Basketball Federation. The delegation was welcomed on-site by David Bagauri, Director of the Akhmeta Sports School, and local coaches Gogi Otiashvili and Irakli Bodaveli, who officially took over the new equipment.

Federation representatives emphasized that supporting regions, empowering local basketball sections, and sustaining vibrant sports hubs remain the organization’s topmost priorities. The ultimate goal is to ensure that no region in the country is left without proper attention and equipment, giving talented children everywhere an equal opportunity to realize their full potential.

While visits to the vast majority of Georgia’s regions have already been successfully completed this year, this educational and infrastructural mission is far from over. The federation’s supply trucks will keep moving, and the program will not stop until every single region across the country receives its promised basketball equipment.