Two winners from Yerevan
By Liane Liana Aghabekyan
Last week, from August 13th to the 21st, the 5th PanArmenian games were held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. More than 3200 athletes from 125 cities in 30 countries, including athletes from Nagorno-Karabakh, met to compete in ten different sports competitions. Besides the joy of competition it was to visit a great opportunity for many participants to see old friends again, from their own home or the home of their ancestors.
The idea for the PanArmenian games comes from the diplomat Ashot Meliq-Shahnazaryan and the purpose is to renew the connection of Armenians in the diaspora with their country of origin. The most obvious example being the Armenian inhabitants of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto independent but unrecognized state established within the borders of Azerbaijan. One reason why you will look for it in vain on any maps or atlases you may have.
The first games were held in 1999, now they are carried out every four years. The motto of the 5th PanArmenian games was "sporting unity." In a grand opening celebration in Vazgen Sargsyan stadium, the athletes were greeted by the Prime Minister of Armenia and other officials.
The opening ceremony
The grand opening of the fifth PanArmenian games
The underlying purpose being a peace effort, flags of both Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh
can be seen.
Processions take place in front of a packed stadium audience
The Armenian chess team have a place of honor having just won the prestigious
World Team Championship.
More reasons to cheer
The president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan
Yerevan at night
The chess tournament
Although the actual PanArmenian games highlight classic sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, futsal, tennis, and swimming, with such a chess manic country it could hardly be without a chess discipline as well. Since the goal was not to have the numerous GMs and IMs duking it out, the upper threshold of the participants was much lower.
The tournament took place in the chess hall named after the 9th World Champion
Armenian Tigran Petrosian.
To the right is the eventual winner Zohrak Apresyan
Silver medalist Gor Virabyan faces Zohrak Apresyan in a crucial game
The bronze went to Manuel Petrosyan from Nagorno-Karabakh
The World Junior silver medalist Hovhannisyan presents the bronze medal
In the women's tournament Diana Mnatsakanyan took bronze
The winner's podium of the women's tournament
Both the gold medalists are from Yerevan
Final standings with original spelling
Names in English transliteration:
Click for complete standings
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