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.
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