On the occasion of the birthday of the national hero of Georgia, Giorgi Antsukhelidze, the 3X3 Basketball tournament named after him started in the Defense Forces. The event was opened with the Georgian national anthem, which was performed by Ana Antsukhelidze, the daughter of the national hero, Giorgi Antsukhelidze.
The Minister of Defense of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili, his Deputy Rati Bregadze, the Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, the leaders of the Defense Forces and the family members of the national hero were present on the official Opening Ceremony of the Championship in the Support Center for Training and Military Education Command Krtsanisi.
The tournament of Giorgi Antsukhelidze in 3X3 Basketball in the Georgian Defense Forces started today and will end with the final game on August 26 in Batumi. 52 teams of Defense Forces subdivisions will compete in the championship. Games in 3X3 Basketball will be held in two stages. The winning team identified at the final stage on August 26 will receive the Giorgi Antsukhelidze Transitional Cup, other prize winners will be awarded with medals and certificates. In addition to the final game, the wounded military servicemen will hold a para-basketball game on a specially arranged court on Batumi Boulevard.
The championship was initiated by the Ministry of Defense this year and is held with the support of the Basketball National Federation. Prior to the match, a Memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Defense and the Basketball National Federation, which was signed by Deputy Defense Minister Rati Bregadze and Federation President Paata Guraspauli. The purpose of the memorandum is to promote the development of basketball in the defense forces, to train coaches and to raise military awareness in the sports community.
Georgian National Hero, Giorgi Antsukhelidze was born on August 18, 1984 in the village of Kvemo Alvani, Akhmeta district. Giorgi Antsukhelidze participated in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, on August 9, he was captured by Russians and beaten to death after being tortured. On April 15, 2013, he was awarded the title of National Hero of Georgia.
