Below: Saint George, for whom Georgia is named, is shown on many traditional emblems 
Olympic Games
Click HERE for NBC's web page on Georgia's progress in the Beijing Olympics.
2008 Beijing
Air Pistol. The Olympic spirit has been personified by Russian Natalia Paderina and Georgian Nino Salukvadze. Paderina won the silver and Salukvadze the bronze in women's 10-meter air pistol. After the award ceremony Paderina invited Salukvadze onto the podium, and the two old friends embraced.
The women knew that their hug and cheek kisses would mean a great deal, because a few days before their countries began a war. Tensions had been building between Russia and Georgia for months (one could say years), and the shooting began August 8, 2008, as the Beijing Olympics began. Paderina serves in the Russian military. Salukavadze almost left the Olympics when the hostilities began, and the Georgian team stayed only after President Saakashvili called Beijing to tell them to compete.
Greco-Roman Gold. Manuchar Kvirkelia won an emotional gold medal in men's Greco-Roman wrestling. He paraded the Georgian flag around the field and then dedicated the medal to the Georgian people.
Judo Gold. Shortly after Kvirkelia's victory, Irakli Tsirekidze won the country's second gold in men's 90-kilo judo. During the semifinals Tsirekidze pointed to the name of his country after beating a Russian.
Beach Volleyball: Georgia vs. Russia. The Georgian beach volleyball team beat the Russian team in the best two of three sets. Cristine Santanna and Andrezza Chagas, known as "Saka" and "Rtvelo" in Georgia, ("Sakartvelo" being the Georgian word for Georgia) are dual-citizens of Georgia and Brazil.
Russia won the first set and Georgia the second. In the final set, the Georgians were behind but evened the score at 20-20 before winning the final two points and the match. The match was watched closely by international media because of the sudden war between the two nations, starting six days before.
As the teams arrived, Saka and Rtvelo took the initiative to shake hands and then hug their Russian opponents, Natalia Uryadova and Alexandra Shiryaeva. But after the match the mood changed, and the two Russians looked sullen in a press conference. Uryadova and Shiryaeva muttered that they hadn't lost to "real" Georgians. Saka and Rtvelo remained upbeat and gracious, saying that they respected their opponents.
Archery. Khatuna Lorig, a native of Georgia playing on the American team this year, advanced to the quarterfinals of competition in women's archery. Lorig beat Virginie Arnold of France and Alison Williamson of Great Britain, barely missing the Olympic record of 114 points. At one point she scored four 10s on five shots. She finished the round with six 10s out of the 12 arrows.
Georgian team member Khatuna Narimanidze also advanced to the quarterfinals.
2004 Athens: Olympic Gold!
Zurab Zviadauri gave Georgia its first-ever Olympic gold medal after beating Hiroshi Izumi of Japan in men's 90-kilogram judo on August 18, 2004. Weightlifter George Asanidze also became an Olympic champion for the first time in Athens, adding a gold medal to the bronze he won at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. Nestor Khergiana won silver in judo (Men's extra lightweight) and Ramaz Nozadze won silver in wrestling (men's Greco-Roman)
2000 Sydney: Six Medals
In the 2000 Sydney games the nation was awarded six bronzes:
- George Asanidze — Weightlifting, men's light heavyweight (also gold in 2004 games)
- Akaki Chachua — Wrestling, men's Greco-Roman Featherweight
- Eldar Kurtanidze — Wrestling, men's freestyle heavyweight (also bronze in 1996 games)
- Vladimir Tchantouria — Boxing, men's heavyweight
- Mukhran Vakhtangadze — Wrestling, men's Greco-Roman middleweight
- Giorgi Vazagashvili — Judo, men's half lightweight
1996 Atlanta: First Year
Georgia participated as an independent country for the first time in 1996 at the Atlanta games. The nation's athletes won two bronze medals: Soso Liparteliana for Judo (men's half middleweight) and Eldar Kurtanidze for Wrestling (men's freestyle light heavyweight).
Georgian dancers, below; note traditional coats with rifle cartridges 
Basketball
Zaza Pachulia, Vladimir Stepania, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili are Georgian natives who play on U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams. Pachullia is a center for the Atlanta Hawks; Stephania is a center for the Portland Trail Blazers; and Tskitishvili plays forward for the New York Nicks.
In 2003 the three men, together with the NBA, donated sporting equipment and clothing to the Georgian schools where they learned to play basketball.
Rugby
Rugby is possibly the most popular sport in Georgia, and the Georgian National Team members are heroes. The World Rugby Shop online carries team shirts.
19th century legendary wrestler Gldaneli, below 
