Levan Akhvlediani

Levan Akhvlediani (Georgian: ლევან ახვლედიანი, born 10 March 1969) is a Georgian sports official who served as the president of the Georgian Volleyball Federation from 2001 to 2013.

Akhvlediani is a currently a member of the Beach Volleyball Commission for the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB),[1][2] and in the past has served on the FIDV's Development Commission.

2008 Olympic Games

After Akhvlediani was elected president of the Georgian Volleyball Federation in 2001, he decided to recruit Brazilian beach volleyball players with the intent of attracting more players to Georgia's Black Sea coast. After contacting a Brazilian coach, they were able to select high-calibre players—who were not likely to make the highly competitive Brazilian team—and invite them to play for Georgia. "Every business needs success so I looked for the shortest way to success," he told Reuters. By 2008, Brazilians Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro, and Andrezza Martins and Cristine Santanna received citizenship in time to compete for Georgia at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.[3]

While the Olympics were being held, the Russian-Georgian diplomatic crisis escalated to the Russo-Georgian War. The volleyball rivalry that pitted Martins and Santanna against Russians Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalya Uryadova created international headlines because of the war; Akhvlediani spoke regularly about the mood among the Georgians and the decision to stay in Beijing.[4][5][6] The No. 22 Georgian women's pair ultimately upset the No. 15 Russians in the quarterfinals. The Russians stated that they did not lose to Georgians but to Brazilians, and Uryadova stated that if Martins and Santanna were real Georgians, the war would have affected them.[7] Akhvlediani criticized the Russians' comments as poor sportsmanship.[8][9][10]

Following the Olympics, Akhvlediani was unanimously re-elected as president of the Georgian Volleyball Federation through 2013.[11]

Officiating

Akhvlediani worked as an event director for FIVB during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He was appointed president of the technical panel at the men's gold-medal final in London, and was the first Georgian to serve in this role at the Olympics.[1][12][13]

He has also acted as tournament director for international events, including the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.[14]

Since 2014, he has been president of Georgia's Sports Development Fund.

References
  1. მსოფლიო ფრენბურთის მმართველმა ორგანომ ლევან ახვლედიანი პლაჟის ფრენბურთის კომისიის წევრად დაამტკიცა [Levan Akhvlediani elected to the Beach Volleyball Commission of the International Volleyball Federation]. Worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 31 October 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. "Beach Volleyball Commission". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. Barrett, Jane (6 August 2008). "Brazilians Geor and Gia fly new flag". Reuters. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  4. Lawton, James (14 August 2008). "On the beach, it was Georgia who beat Russia (with just a little help from Brazil)". The Independent. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  5. Johnson, Tim (13 August 2008). "Georgian-Russian hostilities spill over to beach volleyball". McClatchy Newspapers. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. Hyde, David (14 August 2008). "Russians, Georgians draw a new line in sand". The Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  7. "Georgia gets revenge in beach volleyball … or does it ..." Foreign Policy Magazine. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  8. "Georgia beats Russia in beach volleyball". Associated Press. 13 April 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  9. Donegan, Lawrence (13 August 2008). "Georgia and Russia throw sand and insults". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  10. Zinser, Lynn (13 August 2008). "Proud to Represent Georgia, and Stung by Russian Snub". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  11. "Levan Akhvlediani re-elected as President of Georgia's Volleyball Federation". 1TV. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  12. ლევან ახვლედიანი ოლიმპიურ თამაშებზე პლაჟბურთში ვაჟთა შორის ფინალური მატჩის დირექტორად დაინიშნა [Levan Akhvlediani appointed jury director for the men's Olympic final match]. SportAll.ge (in Georgian). 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  13. "FIVB Control Committee Members". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  14. პლაჟის ფრენბურთში მსოფლიო ტურის კომისიის წევრი ლევან ახვლედიანი იქნება [Levan Akhvlediani will be director for the Beach Volleyball World Tour]. News.ge (in Georgian). 3 April 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2015.


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