Tuesday, August 6 2019 18:50

ArmInfo.Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today in Stepanakert met with members of the World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games.

Prime Minister Pashinyan, welcoming the representatives of the  executive committee, noted that he was enthusiastically waiting for  the official opening ceremony coming tonight, which, according to the  organizers, would be an event of a high and proper level.

Nikol Pashinyan in his speech, in particular, touched upon the  importance of holding the seventh summer Pan-Armenian Games in  Artsakh. "I consider it very symbolic that the seventh Pan-Armenian  Summer Games are being held in Stepanakert, Artsakh. I said yesterday  that it was from the Pan-Armenian Games in Stepanakert that the idea  came up that the games could become a very important and good  platform for a national dialogue. I think it's very useful, so that  we can truly expand the idea of anti-Armenianism. In this regard, of  course, the Pan-Armenian Games have a very important and exceptional  significance, "Pashinyan said.

According to him, the idea is that, if possible, the Pan-Armenian  Games should be developed in all respects - in terms of sports, and  in terms of organizing pan-Armenian life, and culturally. <I am very  glad that we are going in this direction and really wish success to  the Pan-Armenian Games. In the light of the new situation, the games  are of particular importance>, the prime minister said.

Of course, he emphasized, if we compare the first Pan-Armenian games  with the second, third games, it will become clear that there is  constant progress, and everything needs to be done to make this  progress more visible and effective. "The Pan-Armenian Games should  be a good platform for identifying talented athletes of the Armenian  people and considering the possibilities of their inclusion in the  Armenian team so that the country's sports glory grows whenever  possible, because I am sure that there are these resources all over  the world," Pashinyan said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, presenting the organizational  work of the seventh summer Pan- Armenian Games, said that at the  moment there are no problems, everything is going smoothly. He noted  that 35 states and 161 cities are participating in the seventh  Pan-Armenian Summer Games. In total, the number of sports  delegates-athletes, coaches, representatives of unions, judges  included in the composition of sports delegations is about 5300. The  largest delegation from Russia is 14 cities with 368 athletes. This  year 3 new states are participating in the games - the United Arab  Emirates, Iraq and the Czech Republic.  The United States sent 318  representatives from 11 US cities. From European countries, 178  athletes from 6 cities. The largest number of delegates arrived from  Australia - 86 participants.

The chairman of the World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games Ishkhan  Zakaryan introduced the members of the committee and noted that this  morning in Artsakh-Askeran, Martakert, Martuni - football, chess,  cycling, arm wrestling tournaments had already begun, and sports  dances will take place tomorrow.  In total, the program of the  seventh summer Pan-Armenian Games includes 17 sports, 5 sports will  be held in Artsakh, 12 in Yerevan. He also provided details on the  placement of sports delegations and work to ensure appropriate  conditions.

The Prime Minister and members of the World Committee of the  Pan-Armenian Games exchanged views on further plans for the  development of games. Issues related to the organization of the  winter games, the holding of the Paralympic Games and the development  of institutional development mechanisms were touched upon. -v-