Artsakh athlete to compete in Sochi Paralympic Games

TSAGHKADZOR, Armenia—The opening ceremony of the first Pan-Armenian Winter Games took place in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, reported Public Radio of Armenia.

In attendance was President Serzh Sarkisian, who welcomed athletes, participants and guests to the Pan-Armenian Winter Games, noting that after 15 years, the Pan-Armenian Games’ expanding geography and continually increasing number of participants are a sign of its popularity.

The President expressed gratitude to all those people whose hard work helped establish the Games 15 years ago and whose hard work continues to make the Games a reality.

“The Pan-Armenian Games are of great importance for us. It is obvious that the Games strengthen bonds between the Homeland and the Diaspora and that they give thousands of young Armenian athletes and people seeking a healthy lifestyle an opportunity to establish new contacts abroad and in their homeland, which is vital in today’s world,” President Sarkisian said. Wishing everyone fun and successes, the President declared the first Pan-Armenian Winter Games open.

Participants from the Nagorno Karabakh Republic expressed their excitement for the first Pan-Armenian Winter Games and said they are happy for the latest Pan-Armenian sports event, Armenpress reported.

“We have so many expectations from the Games,” said Tigran Durgaryan, the coach of Artsakh’s only representative athlete Mher Avanesian, an athlete with physical disabilities who will also compete at the Sochi Paralympic Games, set to start March 4th.

“First, the most important thing is that I see so many Armenians here united. This is a big event. The Games provide the youth with the opportunity to shine and show their talents and skills,” Durganyan said. “I hope that other athletes, seeing our Mher, will be inspired.”

Armenpress reports that Mher Avanesyan will represent Armenia at the Sochi Paralympic Games starting on March 4.

“These [Pan-Armenian] Games are quite important for Mher. For him it is also a ‘test.’ We can learn a lot competing here while we get ready for the Sochi Games,” concluded Durganyan.