WISSOL INVESTED 8 MILLION GEL IN SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
by Tako Khelaia
The FINANCIAL
Monday, January 25, 2010
The FINANCIAL — Wissol, one of the leading oil importing and
distribution companies in Georgia spent around GEL 8 million on
implementation of sports infrastructure development project, the
company announced last week.
"CSR is one of our top priorities," Samson Pkhakadze, Chairman of the
Wissol Board of Directors said during the presentation of the sport
complex in Didi Dighomi district, Tbilisi .
Development of sports infrastructure is a unique project initiated
by the municipality of Georgia. "Commercial interests were also
included in that project, that is why we became involved in it",
Pkhakadze says..
In the frames of the sports infrastructure development project,
Wissol has constructed a large sports complex, specialized on cycle
sport and rugby. The complex sits on 23303 square metres. Rugby field,
training halls, showers and doctor rooms are amongst the facilities
of the centre.
"This is the 4th sports complex of multifunctional means to be built.
Construction lasted for 18 months. We have built two open Rugby
stadiums and a 200 metre modern cycle track. They were designed by
the famous Dutch architect Sander Douma," Pkhakadze explains.
"Georgia has already submitted an application for hosting the 2015
Olympic Games. Therefore we consider the development of sports
infrastructure in Georgia to be of crucial importance," Tbilisi
Mayor Giorgi Ugulava said while attending the presentation of the
sports complex.
Wissol was general sponsor of the Caucasus Cup in bicycle racing in
Tbilii where two Georgian teams, Turkish, Azeri and Armenian teams
were racing for victory.
"In Georgia there used to be 2 big cycle tracks but neither of them
are functioning. Now you can see that our sportsmen are being given
adequate infrastructure. And we look forward to seeing their success,"
Pkhakadze said.
Wissol Group owns football club Wissol Avaza. Wissol was awarded with
a special prize during the Best Soccer Player of the Season ceremony,
for the reconstruction of the Avaza School according to UEFA standards.
In the frame of Wissol’s healthy lifestyle promotional campaign,
in June, 2008, Wissol acquired Rugby Club Kochebi (braves) which
is already participating in championships under the name "Wissol –
Kochebi".
"For any sportsmen and for me as a footballer, the main point is to
have good playing and training conditions. Correct training encourages
correct development of a sportsman’s skill, therefore good playing
conditions help a player to present himself in a good way. That’s why
the construction of such bases are very welcome, and to play in a club
with such high quality training conditions is always a pleasure for
any footballer," says Gigi Ioseliani, footballer of FC Wissol Avaza.
"If a sportsman has the ability to train under good conditions it
will affect his future achievements. In Georgia I haven’t seen such
a high quality sports centre until now. This is the first centre
of such high quality and I sincerely hope that many others will be
built in order to develop football and many other sports in Georgia,"
Tornike Nemsadze, another soccer player says.
As Pkhakadze says, the company has assumed an obligation to support
Georgian football for several reasons. The company supports sporty
lifestyle principles and on that basis Wissol has also organized 18
football teams and 2 rugby teams of its employees.
"Wissol Petroleum Georgia believes that young people in Georgia
should be engaged in studies. A healthy lifestyle is very important
to succeed in both one’s private life and career," Pkhakadze says.
Wissol was named Petrol Station of November by Modern Petrol
Station Magazine. The award was taken for its superior design, newest
technological and technical solutions and for offering a wide variety
of services.
"In 2010 Wissol is planning to expand its chain, adding up to 15
petrol stations throughout Georgia, making a total investment of
10 million GEL, more concentration will be made out of Tbilisi ,"
says Samson Pkhakadze.