The official song and mascot of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025 have been unveiled ahead of the 17th edition of the event next February as excitement continues to build in Georgia.

Europe’s best young winter athletes aged 14-18 will compete in the city next winter, where GUNDA, the official mascot, will inspire them to perform to the best of their abilities in their first international multi-sport event.

GUNDA means snowball in Georgian and is a Caucasus Lynx, who calls the Caucasus mountains where Bakuriani 2025 will be held their home. The mascot is described by the Local Organising Committee as having a “remarkable ability to glide gracefully through the snow”, while her “piercing gaze symbolise the very qualities that young Olympians rely on: strength, determination and precision.”

At an event to mark the unveiling in Bakuriani’s Central Park, The Night Show Band delivered a performance of Shine, the official festival song. Guests, including local schoolchildren, were entertained and treated to gifts as the build up to the first EYOF held in Georgia since 2015, when capital Tbilisi hosted the summer edition, continued. 

EOC Executive Committee Member and Chair of the EYOF Commission Member Liney Halldorsdottir and Chair of the Bakuriani 2025 CoComm Florin Misca were present at the unveiling, alongside fellow CoComm members, Chair of the Bakuriani 2025 Local Organising Committee, Mr Mamuka Khabareli and Georgian National Olympic Committee President Leri Khabelov.

Chair of the Bakuriani 2025 Organising Committee Mr Khabareli remarked on an important milestone and that the excitement that is building in the country.

Mr Khabareli said: “Our mascot GUNDA will be one of the symbols of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025 and we are delighted to unveil her to Europe with now less than a year to go before the event.

“We have seen the excitement amongst the guests in attendance in the Central Park, especially the schoolchildren here, when The Night Show Band performed our official festival anthem.

“Our preparations continue to run smoothly and we are confident that the Winter EYOF will not only provide Europe’s best young athletes with fantastic experience, but also inspire local Georgian children to participate in winter sports and to experience all of the many benefits that come with competing.”

EOC EYOF Commission Chair Ms Halldorsdottir said: “It has been fantastic to visit Bakuriani to see both the preparations that are ongoing and to feel the enthusiasm from Georgians, who are excited to host our Winter EYOF.

“The local children were all excited to have their photo taken with GUNDA and to participate in the evening’s activities, which emphasises the impact that the EYOF will have in the region next February.

“EYOFs are crucial for the development of the next generation of athletes across Europe and I am excited to return here for the competition in 2025.”