In celebration of the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival, the National Bank of Georgia has introduced a silver collector coin dedicated to “Bakuriani 2025.” 

The presentation event was attended by Mamuka Khabareli, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the European Winter Olympic Festival “Bakuriani 2025,” Leri Khabelov, President of the Georgian National Olympic Committee, and Spyros Kapralos, President of the European Olympic Committee. 

During the ceremony, NBG Governor Natia Turnava presented collector silver coins to European Olympic Committee President Spyros Kapralos, Georgian National Olympic Committee President Leri Khabelov, the father of Nodar Kumaritashvili—the athlete who tragically lost his life at the 2010 Olympic Games—and the son of veteran ski jumper Koba Tsakadze. 

Natia Turnava highlighted the significance of the coin issuance, emphasizing the NBG’s exclusive right to mint collector coins, a tradition upheld by leading central banks worldwide. 

“The European Winter Youth Olympic Festival is one of the most significant sporting events, and I am delighted that Bakuriani will serve as its host in 2025. This marks an important milestone in the history of Georgian winter sports. Given the event’s importance, we unanimously decided to dedicate our latest collector coin to “Bakuriani 2025”. 

Through this initiative, the NBG contributes to strengthening Georgia’s image as a host of major international sporting events. It is an honor to play a role in this historic occasion, which underscores our country’s growing status on the global sports stage. I firmly believe that Georgia’s winter resorts—Bakuriani in particular—are emerging as premier venues for international competitions,” stated Turnava.

The Board of the National Bank of Georgia, in collaboration with the Organizing Committee of the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival “Bakuriani 2025,” has decided to issue a 5 GEL collector coin. 

The coin’s design sketch was developed in partnership with the “Bakuriani 2025” Organizing Committee, and the coins were minted in a limited edition of 5,000 at the Polish Mint. 

The obverse features a skier against a snowy mountain backdrop, with colored details and the denomination “5 GEL.” The inscriptions “European Winter Youth Olympic Festival” and “Bakuriani 2025” curve along the edge, separated by snowflakes. 

The reverse showcases the festival logo (with color details) set against a snowy mountain backdrop, along with the inscription “საქართველო” “Georgia.” 

The exact date and conditions for the sale of the coins will be announced on the official website of the National Bank of Georgia and the Money Museum platform. 

Notably, the National Bank of Georgia has previously issued collector coins dedicated to sports, including those commemorating the achievements of Georgian athletes in rugby, basketball, football, and the Olympic Games.