The new minister was presented by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at a briefing at the Government Administration.

“I would like to present to you the Minister of Culture and Sport. Until the ministry is divided, there will be one minister - Tinatin Rukhadze. Immediately after the upcoming elections, a legislative amendment will be initiated to divide the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and Tinatin Rukhadze will assume the Office of Minister of Culture. The Ministry of Culture will emerge as an individual institution, and the Ministry of Sport will be established independently.

As you know, we have great achievements in sports. Over the past years, special attention is paid to the development of sports, and the establishment of a separate Ministry of Sport is yet another expression of this attention. Sports will remain our special priority, and the existence of an independent Ministry of Sport will best illustrate this.

We want to present to you Mr. Shalva Gogoladze who will at this point assume the Office of First Deputy Minister. He will serve as Sports Curator at the Ministry of Culture and Sport. After the Ministry of Sport secedes, he will assume the Office of Minister of Sport. This is our political team’s decision.

Shalva Gogoladze graduated from the Academy of Physical Education and Sport of Georgia, also the Tbilisi State University, majoring and specializing in law. For years, he pursued a successful career as an attorney, also being at different times Director of the Athletic and Health Complex at the Ministry of Sport and Youth, also Director of the National Training Center for Georgia Olympic Reserves. For years, he also worked as Deputy Head of Tbilisi City Hall’s Municipal Service for Education, Sport, and Youth Affairs. Since 2015, he, for years, held the position of Deputy Minister, also curating sports affairs at the time. Thus, he has vast experience in the field of sports, and we are convinced that he will prove a very successful First Deputy Minister at first and then an equally successful Minister of Sport”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.