TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia will compete in next year's Winter Olympics hosted by Russia, the country's Olympic committee decided unanimously, marking an ease in ties between the two countries that fought a five-day war in 2008.
"The committee decided that Georgia should participate, and I think it's a very good decision," Leri Khabelov, the committee president, said after the decision late Thursday. "I'm glad that our sportsmen have not been preparing for these Olympic Games in vain."
He said Georgia would send an official request to participate to the International Olympic Committee before May 7.
Russia and Georgia severed ties following the 2008 war, which followed years of tension over Moscow's support for two rebel regions, including Abkhazia, which lies just kilometers from Sochi, where Russia is spending more than $50 billion to host the games.
