Pan-Armenian Games Finale
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Yesterday saw the close of the fourth Pan-Armenian Games although soon into proceedings the event turned into something more like a publicity exercise for the prime minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, ahead of the 2008 presidential election. Still, fair play to him. Despite all the problems with the competition, the night was a spectacular one. Soprano Anna Mailian sang the Armenian national anthem, Miss Armenia 2003 Lusine Tovmasian was there to provide the eye candy, the new Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs, Armen Grigorian, even made an appearance, and for once it was possible to be within a meter of Sarkisyan and Gagik Tsarukian without some bodyguard on steroids pushing citizens and journalists out the way.
Noyan Tapan has more. It’s interesting to note that both Istanbul and Cairo (Kahire) were awarded special prizes as if to help them forget the attacks on them earlier in the games.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The fourth Pan-Armenian Games finished in Yerevan on August 26. The teams from Yerevan won in the competitions of basket-ball, volley-ball and football. The team of Stepanakert was the first in the football tournament. Chess players Gor Virabian (Nor Hatchn) and Diana Mnatsakanian (Abovian), table tennis-players Murad Sargsian (Gyumri), Anna Poghosian (Yerevan), Hasmik Matevosian - Tatev Yengibarian (Yerevan), and Alexandre Diarian (Stepanakert) - Arshak Haroutiunian (Yerevan) couples received the championship title.
Hovhannes Davtian (solo games, Yerevan) and Haroutiun Saringulian - Henrik Nikoghosian, Lusine Davtian - Ani Amiraghian couples (all from Yerevan) were the best in the men’s tennis tournament.
The obvious leaders with the number of the gained medals are the sportsmen from Yerevan: 36 golden, 22 silver, and 19 bronze medals.
Gayane Tunian (Yerevan, tennis) was recognized as the beauty of the games. The prize “Fair game” was handed to the volley-ball team of Los Angeles. The team of Istanbul was recognized as the best sporting delegatation of the Diaspora. The prize “Sporting soul and patience” was given to the men’s basket-ball team of Kahire.
Serge Sargsian, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, was awarded with the “Sign of Honor” order of the world committee of the Pan-Armenian Games.
The closing ceremony of the games took place in the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre after A. Spendiarian. A great concert was organized in the Azatutiun (Freedom) square after the official ceremony.
The fifth Pan-Armenian Games will take place in four years, that is, in 2011.
On the other hand, the event made me wonder if such spectaculars aren’t the stuff the Soviet era was made of with token youth representative after youth representative coming to the front of the stage to read Komsomol-style what sounded like a very scripted and less than genuine diatribe on Armenia. Awarding the prime minister during the event also seemed less than appropriate — although maybe it was as we’re now around six months away from next year’s election. Those fighting for gender equality in Armenia might also raise eyebrows at the crowning of a Miss Pan-Armenian Games rather than, say, the best sports person of the competition.
After the event staged inside Yerevan’s Opera House, an open air event was held outside in Liberty Square. I would have stayed to photograph the event, but once again, the police and event security refused to recognize official press accreditation from the Pan-Armenian Games organizers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as generic MFA accreditation for all official events in Armenia. At the opening event last Sunday they did the same to other journalists from Armenia TV and Photolure as well as to myself, but despite lodging a complaint with the organizers on Wednesday and receiving assurances that it wouldn’t happen again, it did.
Of course, why should I be surprised? This is Armenia, after all, and despite all the glossy facades erected with ease by the authorities, the country is still very definitely still in its post-Soviet, inefficient, and pseudo-democratic infancy.
As one veteran journalist I ran into while leaving the event said. “The police are asses, incompetent, and stupid. They don’t even know the law.” No kidding. He hit the nail right on the head with that one. Not only are these guys ignorant and unable to uphold the law even, they’re rude, seemingly uneducated, and a disgrace for any country. On the other hand, if the event turned out to be another load of third-rate singers such as Hayko and Nune Yesayan miming to songs that can only be described as nauseating, perhaps they actually did me a favor even if their attitude is not conducive to the development of a free media in Armenia.
Anyway, some more photos to come when I can find the time, but for now, just to remind readers that many of the photos I took during the Pan-Armenian Games are available on my Flickr page.
Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Miss Armenia 2003 Lusine Tovmasian, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Armen Grigorian, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Miss Armenia 2003 Lusine Tovmasian, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Anna Mailian, Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Pan-Armenian Games Finale, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
You’re right Onnik. I keep staring at that first picture you have of Sarkisyan handing Miss Armenia what I believe to be a free dinner voucher at Raffi’s Kabob, and I keep thinking, “Why?” Why is he rewarding her who had nothing to do with the games? I don’t get it.
The games seem to have had a spectacular opening, a spectacular closing, and everything in the middle organized by the three stooges. I get the distinct impression that the games, themselves, they didn’t give a damn about–just the opening and closing. I think I’m beginning to understand why you guys complain about Armenian politicians so much: With showmen like these, who needs P.T. Barnum?
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — August 27, 2007 @ 7:44 am
That does sound like quite the Armenian way, doesn’t it, give a dramatic opening and closing and screw the actual reason for holding the opening and closing.
I am truly distraut to hear about the Sarkisyan lovefest, that’s shameful. This is about the Armenian youth, not their probably soon-to-be President. Disgusting and shameless.
Comment by Paul — August 27, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Why am I not surprised that Lusine T. showed up again? She is everywhere! And so is Serj S.
This past week was not about sports at all. Well, in between the opening and the closing it was, but that obviously did not have priority. Really too bad! The idea behind the Pan-Armenian Games is not a bad one at all, but it is turned int o a charade.
Comment by Myrthe — August 27, 2007 @ 11:39 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24674184@N00/1244252666/
Baggy pants has made it to Armenia!
Comment by Darwin Jamgochian — August 27, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
barev dez im anune gohar e es chat em sirum mer miss armenian pashikner lusine tovmasiyanin
Comment by mkhoyan — January 19, 2008 @ 5:44 pm