The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of the Governmental Organizing Committee for the Pan-Armenian Games, attended the opening ceremony of the second Pan-Armenian Winter Games in Jermuk today. The event was also attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Deputy President of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan, Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, and President of the World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games Ishkhan Zakaryan.

Arayik Harutyunyan delivered a welcoming speech, in which, in particular, he noted: "When we decided two years ago to hold the second Pan-Armenian Winter Games in Jermuk, we were in an ambiguous situation, but we were confident that, despite the difficulties, we could hold this festive event in Jermuk. And the opening ceremony showed that we have organized this holiday for the people of Jermuk, for our compatriots from Vayots Dzor, for our citizens of the Republic of Armenia, for our compatriots who have arrived here from all over the world.

Dear Armenians, in the coming days, our athletes will compete in various sports to be recognized as the best in these sports among our Armenians. But I think, and the parade also showed that like in the Olympic Games, in the Pan-Armenian Games also the most important thing is participation. I congratulate everyone on this holiday and invite you all to actively participate in the games in the coming seven days.”

More than 1,300 delegates from 77 cities in 19 countries around the world will participate in the Second Pan-Armenian Winter Games, which will be held in Jermuk until February 7. The games will be held in the following sports: hockey, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, chess, snowball fight and sports dancing.

The opening ceremony of the Second Pan-Armenian Winter Games will be broadcast on Public Television on February 2 at 8:00 PM.