The FINANCIAL — Last week was a very busy one for Wissol Petroleum Georgia in terms of social activities. On June 2, Wissol helped the Embassy of Italy to host the beautiful singer Elena Bonelli at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre for the occasion of Italy’s National Day.
On June 1, Wissol celebrated International Children’s Day organizing a football and free fighting tournament. And on Friday the company organized a bike race and cultural events in Tbilisi.
Vasil Khorava, General Director of Wissol, took part in the tournament together with representatives of the bike race federation and members of NGOs.
“Everyone loves Football,” says Levan Pkhakadze, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of Wissol Petroleum Georgia. Last week he was among the fans visiting Avaza football club. “We are sure that from the football school Avaza will appear new clubs that in the future will compete in national championships.”
Wissol invested about USD 8 million in reconstruction works of sport complexes during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.
“Support from businesses is vital for the development of sport in Georgia. Wissol’s case should be an example for many other businesses,” says Kakha Getsadze, President of the National Wrestling Federation of Georgia.
On June 1 Wissol held a competition in football and free fighting. About 300 children will take part in Wissol’s Cup.
Pkhakadze says that football needs maximal support from ordinary people too. Wissol decided to buy Rugby cub Kochebi recently. Pkhakadze believes it was the right decision. Now the company is evaluating its long term strategy for financial support management of the Rugby club.
Wissol has apportioned an annual budget to the amount of GEL 1.5 million for further development of the infrastructure.
“We are not focused on profit when supporting sport. This is a kind of charity and patronage,” says Pkhakadze. Football is the exception though. “Here a good player costs USD 100 million.”
“Another issue for our company is PR, image, reputation and the wish of the company to be a supporter of national sport.”
“It’s been more than a year that company Wissol has been financing Georgian football. This company is one of the main sponsors of the national championship,” says Paata Burjaliani, General Secretary of Professional Football League.
“According to the results of achievements Georgian rugby players are more successful than football players. But there is a big difference between football and rugby. In football the competition is higher and needs more finances in comparison with others,” Burjaliani says.
Written By Madona Gasanova
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