The Georgian president and prime minister on Wednesday addressed Georgian athletes who are traveling to Sochi for the upcoming winter Olympic Games.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili went to his country's National Olympic Committee to wish Sochi-bound athletes success in the Olympic Games.

The president told the athletes that they had the support of the entire nation.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili addressed the athletes through a special message. He is visiting the EU and NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The prime minister said the nation is proud of the athletes who are to participate in the top-level international competitions with athletes hailing from around the world.

"It proved very difficult to make a decision on participation in the Olympics," said the prime minister, "Nonetheless we considered various factors and made this decision for the benefit of Georgian sports and our athletes, for the benefit of Georgia's national interests."

Georgia is sending a 19-member delegation to the Russian city. Nino Tsiklauri, Iason Abramishvili and Aleksi Beniaidze will compete in Alpine skiing while Elene Gedevanishvili will compete in figure skating.

The South Caucasus country has so far competed in each and every of the winter Olympic Games since its independence in 1991. Endi