Chidaoba – the Georgian national style of wrestling – is back in focus. May 24 and 25 were very special in the village of Shilda in the Kvareli Municipality, where a copious and well-equipped international base for Chidaoba is located. This base was founded and is owned by successful Georgian businessman Giorgi (Gia) Shiukashvili, who also serves as the General Secretary of the National Federation of Chidaoba.
During those days, a conference was held, dedicated to the future development of Chidaoba in Sakartvelo and, without any feigned modesty, in the world. Notably, UNESCO upholds a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, comprising countless cultural practices and skills preserved by generations. The list currently includes 678 elements from 140 nations around the world. Its main goal is to preserve and protect traditions at risk of vanishing and to encourage admiration for the cultural diversity of civilization. The term ‘UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list’ encompasses all that is meant by the diverse cultural legacy existing on Earth today, and that valuable list now includes Chidaoba as one of the latest four nominees. This very fact gave impetus to the Shilda Conference, which was organized under the aegis of the Georgian National Federation of Chidaoba.
Invited to participate in the conference were Chidaoba coaches, referees, Federation members, sports education managers, and both local and foreign fans of Chidaoba. The Rector of the University of Sports, Professor Tristan Gulbiani, told the participants that Chidaoba is not just another wrestling style enjoyed by the Georgian public, but an integral part of the national identity of a Kartveli, i.e., a Georgian person. He emphasized that it is thanks to Chidaoba that Georgian athletes in other Olympic events are so successful on the international stage. He also spoke about the potential and prospect of promoting and recognizing Chidaoba as a global sporting event.
The Chief of Staff of the same university, Merab Metreveli, informed the audience that, starting from the upcoming school year, Chidaoba will be added as a separate specialized discipline in the curriculum. On top of that, by the initiative of the State University of Sport and the IFGW (International Federation of Georgian Wrestling), the Academy of Chidaoba was founded. Within this institution, applicants have the opportunity to take a certified course in Chidaoba coaching and refereeing.
The General Secretary of the Federation, Giorgi (Gia) Shiukashvili, introduced the already well-tested (on the international level) club system in sports, which Georgia has successfully adopted and implemented. As a matter of fact, Gia underlined, Chidaoba clubs are already operating in numerous countries around the world, teaching this wrestling style to young people of various nationalities.
The foreign participants in the conference also delivered enthusiastic speeches, discussing the realistic chances of making Chidaoba one of the internationally recognized sporting events. It was especially interesting to hear from Mr. Davit Tabatadze, who, together with his veteran wrestler father Temur Tabatadze, founded a Chidaoba school in America. He is now ready to open a Chidaoba club in Philadelphia, where the sport will be taught on a professional level. The club will help Georgian emigrants connect, while also promoting interaction between Georgian and American youth and sharing Georgian sporting traditions and cultural values with American friends.
The Italian guest of the conference, Umberto Giovanni, spoke excitedly about the simplicity and uniqueness of Chidaoba. He said he had been observing training sessions for five days at the Shilda premises of the Chidaoba Academy and had already made the decision to open a Chidaoba club in Italy.
At the conclusion of the conference, proceedings moved to the halls of the Academy, where judges and coaches discussed rules, evaluation systems, and the granting of additional wrestling time. A decision was made to create two specific groups under the leadership of the Federation: one to work on Chidaoba attire and the other on rules and regulations.
The conference was moderated by the President of the National Federation of Chidaoba, Temur Khubuluri, with secretarial duties handled by Yuri Imerlishvili and media support provided by Silknet sports journalist Tamaz Gogibedashvili.
At first glance, this might seem like just another get-together in Georgia. But let’s be assured that the discussions and interactions that took place during the Shilda Conference are a major service to our national sport. Thanks to such efforts, we may one day witness Chidaoba becoming an Olympic event. That’s exactly what happened to Judo – once solely Japanese, now one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Blog by Nugzar B. Ruhadze
