Mikhail Mirilashvili, Acting President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, presented his congratulations to the participants of the Sochi Winter Olympics. His speech reads as follows: “On behalf of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, I would like to give my heartfelt congratulations to the participants of the XXII Olympic Games in Sochi with the outstanding beginning of the competition. I am certain that we will be witnessing a brilliant, spectacular, and honest sports competition.

I hope that the sports gala in Sochi will serve as a path to peace and mutual understanding between peoples, as was the idea of the original Olympic games. We, the representatives of an organizaiton that unites communities from dozens of countries on two continents, are especially close to this idea. The strengthening of international ties and the development of tolerance have been the most important tasks of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress since its founding.

I have headed the sports club “Maccabi-Russia” for many years and have met many great people in sports. I have always been enamored with their determination and strength of character, with how loyal they were to the path they chose. Talking to them taught me that striving towards victory is no less important than victory itself.

I wish success to all of the participants of the Olympic games in Sochi, and to the best of the best - their well-deserved victories.”