Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili today visited the town of Lanchkhuti, in western Georgia's Guria Province, to open a new public swimming pool.

"It means a lot when such forsaken places are fixed up, when children have a place to go, when people see that there are prospects for their regions and wish to stay there. We are building swimming pools not only here, but throughout Georgia - in Telavi, Qvareli, Kutaisi and Zugdidi. Not long ago I saw the refurbished pool in Chiatura. Eighty per cent of those wishing to join the army do not know how to swim. This is because as children they did not have the opportunity to play sports," Saakashvili said.

Approximately 270,000 lari were spent on building the swimming pool in Lanchkhuti, of which 60,000 came from the local budget and the remainder from the president's reserve fund.

press Office
of the President of Georgia