The FINANCIAL — Wissol Petroleum Georgia, one of the leading oil companies in Georgia, has proved that even in tough times, in the wake of the Russo-Georgian war, it’s essential to keep up social investment activities. Due to the contract signed between Wissol and Kolkhida Media Rights Holding on October 7 at Wissol Head Office, Wissol became the official sponsor of the National Football Championship of Georgia.
The senior league of XX National Championship of 2008/09 in Georgia will be held in three stages, where 11 teams will participate. These teams are Locomotive, Vit Georgia, Dinamo, Mglebi, Gagra, Sioni, Meskheti, Zestaponi, Borjomi, Olympi and Spartak.
“Kolkhida Media Rights Holding acquired the right to broadcast the Georgian National Championship for 20 years. With the efforts of skilled foreign and local specialists of Kolkhida Media Rights Holding and Wissol’s assistance, the fans will be able to watch not only the actual TV report of modern style and high quality definition, but also watch high level weekly TV discussions on Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). This way Georgian football will be even more successful and popular,” Falk Spoerry, representative of Kolkhida Media Rights Holding, told The FINANCIAL.
As Spoerry said, Wissol is the first sponsor and they’re offering a sponsorship package to other companies as well. 60% of the profit will be returned to the club.
“Our first contribution to this project is 100 000 GEL. Dr. Samson Pkhakadze, Deputy Chairman of the Wissol Board of Directors, told the FINANCIAL. “Wissol considers itself two-fold responsible to stand by Georgian sport: firstly, Wissol supports sports. There are 12 football teams staffed with the company personnel. They do exercises every week and take part in internal championships. Secondly, Wissol believes that youngsters in Georgia should be kept busy with studies and sport. Wissol is beginning to do a big promotional campaign of sporting life in Georgia and believes that other companies and the whole of society should join in this very important activity.”
“In our opinion sponsorship provided by Wissol and further by other companies and also cooperation with them will help national football to be successful and popular. We transferred GEL 200,000 to 10 winning teams this year. I hope this figure will soon be increased up to a million,” noted Paata Burjaliani, General Secretary of the Professional Football League.
Wissol group is one of the biggest business groups in Georgia, the leader in the energy sector and is presented on the market through its sub-brands: Wissol Petroleum, Wissol Gas, Air Wissol and Wissol Gas Distribution Company.
Wissol is the first and only company in the Georgian Energy sector that received ISO 9000:2001 Quality Management certificate.
Wissol owns the largest network of service stations. Currently the company has over 100 licenses. 67 Wissol service stations will be in operation by the end of 2008 bringing enhanced convenience to its customers. For the time being Wissol is constructing 7-8 petrol stations.
Wissol is engaged in the construction of football, rugby and bicycle track squares and judo halls to further promote the development of Georgian sport.
According to Pkhakadze, the total combined cost of the projects is GEL 3-4 million. All projects will be completed by the end of March and some of them might be completed by the end of the year.
The company acquired the oldest Georgian rugby club Kochebi and from now on it will participate in tournaments as Wissol-Kochebi.
“Wissol’s task is to make this team stronger and achieve further success,” says the company.
Wissol is constructing four open football squares with artificial covering; wrestling and judo halls, which will have separate halls, administrative building for coaches and two open rugby squares. Reconstruction of the Rugby Federation’s private training base is also in process.
Furthermore, Wissol is constructing a modern style open cycling track including an administrative building and training hall. This project is being overseen by Western European architects and specialists. Wissol has acquired the area and the project will be completed by February 20-25.
By Sopho Kheladze
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