The Tbilisi European Championship opened by General Assembly of European Council of Associated Wrestling Styles (CELA). Today, managers of European Council held traditional meeting at hotel “Radisson Blu Iveria”. Luka Kurtanidze, president of Georgian Wrestling Federation, thanked the guests for arriving in Georgia and promised to hold a high level organized tournament.

Nenad Lalovic, acting president of International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, greeted the audience. He hopes that the upcoming tournament will be held beautifully. Lalovic made a short comment about taking wrestling from Olympic program – he stated they will do their best that International Olympic Committee will make final decision in the favor of them.

Tzeno Tzenov, president of General Assembly of European Council of Associated Wrestling Styles, made report on his management period (2009-2012). Then, delegates voted for some details. Absolute unanimity was broken only once when Ukrainian delegate did not support the plan of 2013. The delegate stated popularization of their sport must be a separate issue in the plan. Tzeno Tzenov explained the unsatisfied delegate that detail was important for him and European Council of Associated Wrestling Styles will work on it.

The main issue on the agenda was elections of CELA Executive Bureau. The delegates had to circle six from 12 candidates. According to the preliminary plan, Kakha Getsadze, former president of Georgian Wrestling Federation, had to be among the candidates but then he resigned and was not substituted with another Georgian.

35 delegates participated in the elections. 29 supported Tzenov and Finnish Jukka Rauhala. Russian Georgy Bryusov and Greek Theodoros Hamakos received 27-27 votes. German Karl-Martin Dittmann received 25 votes. They guaranteed places in Executive Bureau. Additional voting was held to find out the sixth member. Former members Lithuanian Andrej Gribojedov and Swiss David Martinetti were left beyond the bureau. Martinetti is a son of Rafael Martinetti, former president of FILA.

In the second round of the elections Romanian Constantin Poteras Cristian received the most votes.

According to the regulations, members of the bureau had to name new president of CELA General Assembly. This procedure took several seconds. Tzeno Tzenov will run CELA till 2016.

“I find it hard to express emotions in words. I am the happiest man because the wrestling world supports me in such difficult time. I will do my best to develop our sport. As for the upcoming European Championship, I am sure the Georgians will hold it on high level”, - the president of European Council of Associated Wrestling Styles told “World Sport”.

Otar Maglakelidze