Georgia’s richest man will donate a huge sum to the national team for reaching the last 16 of the European Championship :: Olé

Wednesday left Georgia’s tremendous 2-0 victory over Portugal on the last day of the Euro 2024 group stage, which allowed the Crusaders to get into the round of 16 of the competition as one of the best third-placed teams. But in addition to the prize of being able to enter the top 16, The Georgian team received another great news: they will donate a millionaire amount.

Yes, this Thursday, the millionaire Bidzina Ivanichvili, considered the shadow leader of Georgia (in addition to being the one who has the greatest fortune among all the inhabitants of the country), will donate more than 10 million dollars to the national team.

The team coached by Frenchman Willy Sagnol will face one of the tournament favourites, Spain, three-time European champions, on Sunday. However, whatever the result of that match, The ruling party in Georgia (Georgian Dream) announced that Ivanichvili, its honorary president, would grant the team a reward of 10.7 million dollars.

The amount would even double if Georgia eliminates Spain on Sunday and qualifies for the quarter-finals. Great news for the team, which relies on its star striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, winner of the Scudetto with Napoli, and its top scorer Georges Mikautadze (currently the tournament’s top scorer with three goals). to dream about this Eurocup.

Ivanichvili, the richest man in this former Soviet republic, has discreetly presided over the destiny of Georgia for a decade although he does not perform government functions. His fortune is estimated at 4.9 billion dollars, which represents almost a quarter of the country’s GDP.

The 68-year-old was prime minister from 2012 to 2013, after having founded a political party that has in recent years taken a conservative and anti-Western turn. His critics accuse him of wanting to divert Georgia, a candidate for accession to the European Union, from its path towards the West and bring it closer to Russia’s orbit.

Georgia will face Spain Next Sunday, June 30th from 4:00 p.m. (Argentine time), for the round of 16 of Euro 2024. The match will be televised on the screens of ESPN, Star+ and Disney+, and can also be followed minute by minute through the Olé website, as always.