On November 12, 2002, members of Georgia’s national sambo team held a protest outside the State Chancellery. Around 40 team members were demanding 6,800 USD from the government to cover travel expenses for the 26th World Championship, scheduled to take place in Panama on November 23–30. As the team’s head coach, Oleg Iadze, told Inter-Press, this amount would only cover the costs of sending eight athletes and one coach. Due to the lack of funds, no doctor or other support staff would accompany the team to the championship.

“The Sports Department has done everything it possibly could. Because of financial constraints, we are unable to take four distinguished athletes to Panama — three-time world champion Mamuka Kurdgelashvili; European and world champion Badri Janiashvili; European champion Nikoloz Bibilashvili; and European and world junior champion Mirian Pavliashvili,” Iadze stated. The protesters were expecting a meeting with Azmir Jojua, who oversaw the sports division at the State Chancellery.

In the end, the financial issues were resolved, and the team traveled to Panama with eight athletes and one coach.