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A wide array of sports are played in Armenia, the most popular among them being wrestling, weightlifting, judo, football, chess, and boxing. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Over the years Armenia has developed a modern unique and successful culture Cinema of Armenia was born on April 16, 1923, when the Armenian State Committee on Cinema was established by the government decree Armenia is situated close to the Caucasus Mountains, and its music is a mix of indigenous Folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan 's well-known Over the years Armenia has developed a modern unique and successful culture Vartavar (also known as Vardevar or Vardavar, Armenian: hy Վարդավար or Վարդնար is a festival in Armenia where people of all ages see History of Armenia (Moses of Chorene for the historiographical work Politics of Armenia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President is the Head of government Armenia maintains good relations with almost every country in the world the major exceptions being two of its immediate neighbors Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia is the only republic of the former Soviet Union that boasts a nearly-homogeneous population Administrative divisions The following is a list of the provinces with population area and density information Gegharkunik may refer to Gegharkunik Province Gegharkunik Gegharkunik town Gegharkunik Lake now called Lake Sevan Shirak may refer to Shirak Province, Armenia Shirak (town, Armenia Shirak Airport, Armenia Shirak historic region Syunik may refer to Syunik Province Syunik (village Syunik (historic region Yerevan (Երևան Երեւան or Երեվան ˌjɛrəˈvɑːn sometimes written as Erevan, Iravan, Erewan, Ayrivan, and Erivan Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell meaning "gentle way" is a modern Japanese martial art ( Gendai budō) and Combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Chess is a recreational and competitive Game played between two players. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, [1]. Armenia's mountainous terrain provides great opportunities for the practice of sports like skiing and climbing. Snow skiing is a group of sports utilizing Skis as primary equipment UserStan Shebs for a timetable --> Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet (or Being a landlocked country, water sports can only be practiced on lakes, notably Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan (Սևանա լիճ is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world Competitively, Armenia has been successful in weightlifting and wrestling at the international level. Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent Armenia is also an active member of the international sports community, with full membership in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The Union of European Football Associations (Union des associations européennes de football is the administrative and controlling body for European football. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF was founded in 1908 as the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace and is the worldwide governing body for Ice It also hosts the Pan-Armenian Games. The Pan-Armenian Games are a Multi-sport event, held between ethnic Armenian competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia.
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Olympics as part of the USSR
Prior to 1992, Armenians would participate in the Olympics representing the USSR. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 As part of the Soviet Union, Armenia was very successful, winning plenty of medals and helping the USSR win the medal standings at the Olympics on numerous occasions. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The first medal won by an Armenian in modern Olympic history was by Hrant Shahinian (sometimes spelled as Grant Shaginian), who won two golds and two silvers in gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Gymnastics is a Sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength agility and coordination The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland Helsinki (in Finnish;) or Helsingfors (in Swedish;) is the Capital and largest city of Finland. To highlight the level of success of Armenians in the Olympics, Shahinian was quoted as saying:
| “ | Armenian sportsmen had to outdo their opponents by several notches for the shot at being accepted into any Soviet team. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games But those difficulties notwithstanding, 90 percent of Armenian athletes on Soviet Olympic teams came back with medals. [2] | ” |
Olympics after Independence
Armenia first participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona under a unified CIS team, where it was very successful, winning three golds and one silver in weightlifting, wrestling and sharp shooting, despite only having 5 athletes. The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Barcelona, Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent Since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Armenia has participated as an independent nation. Armenia competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time as an independent nation at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer Lillehammer is a town and municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Armenia participates in the Summer Olympic Games in boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, judo, gymnastics, track and field, diving, swimming and sharp shooting. The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an International Multi-sport event, usually quadrennial organised by the International Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, meaning "gentle way" is a modern Japanese martial art ( Gendai budō) and Combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late Gymnastics is a Sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength agility and coordination Diving off a deck into the Great South Bay of Long Islandjpg|thumb|A man dives into the Great South Bay of Long Island. Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Shooting sports have been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the It also participates in the Winter Olympic Games in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and figure skating. The Winter Olympic Games are a winter Multi-sport event held every four years Alpine skiing (or downhill skiing) is a recreational activity and Sport involving sliding down Snow -covered hills with long Skis attached Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is a Winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields primarily Northern Europe, Figure skating is an athletic Sport in which individuals pairs or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging
Football
Armenia used to play as part of the USSR national football team at the international level. The USSR national football team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. Their most successful team was Yerevan's FC Ararat, which had claimed most of the Soviet championships in the 70s and had also gone to post victories against professional clubs like FC Bayern Munich in the Euro Cup. FC Ararat Yerevan (Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Արարատ Երեւան is an Armenian football club, based in Yerevan. FC Bayern München is a German Sports club based in Munich, Bavaria (München Bayern The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA (the Union of European Armenia played as part of the USSR until 1992, when the Armenian national football team played their first official match representing solely Armenia, against Moldova. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Armenia national football team is the national football team of Armenia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia. Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania The national team is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia. The Football Federation of Armenia ( FFA) is the governing body of football in Armenia. The Armenian Premier League is the top football competition in Armenia. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The league currently consists of eight teams, and relegates to the Armenian First League. The Armenian First League is currently the second level football competition in Armenia after the Armenian Premier League. Over the years, the league has evolved from a small competition consisting of only eight teams to two separate divisions. Armenia also has many football venues such as the Hrazdan Stadium and Hanrapetakan Stadium. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Hrazdan Stadium ( Armenian: Հրազդան մարզադաշտ is a multi-use All-seater stadium in Yerevan, Armenia. Hanrapetakan Stadium ( Armenian: Հանրապետական մարզադաշտ English: Republican Stadium) is an all-seater multi-use
Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have produced many world class players, notably Youri Djorkaeff, Alain Boghossian, Andranik Eskandarian, Andranik Teymourian, Edgar Manucharyan, Nikita Simonyan, among others. The Armenian diaspora is a term used to describe the communities of Armenians living outside of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Youri Djorkaeff (born March 9, 1968 in Lyon) is a former French Football (soccer player who played as a forward or as Alain Boghossian (born 27 October 1970 in Digne) is a retired Armenian - French football player and now assistant coach for Andranik Eskandarian ( Armenian: hy Անդրանիկ Իսքանտարեան born December 31, 1951) is an Iranian born American Andranik Teymourian ( Անդրանիկ Թէյմուրյան born Andranik Timotian Samarani, on March 6, 1983 in Tehran) is an Armenian-Iranian Edgar Manucharyan ( Armenian: Էդգար Մանուչարյան born on January 19, 1987 in Yerevan, Soviet Union) is an Nikita (Mkrtych Pavlovic Simonyan (Նիկիտա (Մկրտիչ Սիմոնյան Никита Павлович Симонян born October 12, 1926 in Youri Djokaeff played for France (retired), Andranik Teymourian plays for Iran and Edgar Manucharyan plays for Ajax Amsterdam. The French national football team represents the nation of France in international football. The Iran national football team ( represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax ( also referred to as AFC Ajax, or simply Ajax, is a professional football club from Amsterdam
Rugby union
Rugby union in Armenia is a growing sport. Rugby union in Armenia is a growing sport They are currently unranked in the International Rugby Board 's world rankings which ranks only the top ninety-five The Armenia national rugby union team has drawn much of its strength from the Armenian diaspora and the fact that there are many Armenian rugby players in France. The Armenian national Rugby union team has recently begun playing in the European Nations Cup. It has also drawn strength from the popularity of rugby in neighbouring Georgia.
Wrestling
Wrestling has been a successful sport in the Olympics for Armenia. Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Armen Nazaryan won the gold in the Men's Greco-Roman Flyweight (52 kg) category and Armen Mkertchian won the silver in Men's Freestyle Paperweight (48 kg) category, securing Armenia's first two medals in its Olympic history. Armenia competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States Armen Nazarian (Արմեն Նազարյան Армен Назарян born March 9, 1974 in Masis, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of Amateur wrestling that is practiced throughout the world Armen Mkertchian (Արմէն Մկրտչյան; born October 6, 1973) is an Armenian wrestler. Freestyle wrestling is a style of Amateur wrestling that is practiced throughout the world
Traditional Armenian wrestling is called Kokh and practiced in traditional garb; it was one of the influences included in the Soviet combat sport of Sambo, which is also very popular.
Weightlifting
Weightlifting has also been a successful sport for Armenia in the Olympics with Arsen Melikyan winning the bronze medal in Men's middleweight (77 kg) category. Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Arsen Melikyan (Արսէն Մէլիքյան; born May 17, 1976) is an Armenian weightlifter who competed in the Men's 77 kg weight class In April 2007, the Armenian national team won the 2007 European Championships in Strasbourg with 10 gold medals. April holidays and events National Poetry Month - in United States National Sexual Assault Awareness Month - in United Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The 2007 European Weightlifting Championships were held in Strasbourg, France from 17 April to 22 April, 2007. Strasbourg (Strasbourg stʁazbuʁ Alsatian: Strossburi,; Straßburg) is the capital and principal City of the Alsace région [3]
Before the establishment of an independent Armenia, Armenian weightlifters like Yurik Sarkisian and Yurik Vardanyan competed for the Soviet Union and were very successful. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Yurik Sarkisian (Юрик Саркисян (born August 14 1961) was an Olympic weightlifter for the USSR (1980 and Australia Yurik Norairovich Vardanian (Юрик Норайрович Варданян born June 13 1956 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR) is a former Olympic The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Vardanyan won the gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics, becoming the world's first weightlifter to achieve 400 point totals in the 82. Yurik Norairovich Vardanian (Юрик Норайрович Варданян born June 13 1956 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR) is a former Olympic The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Moscow in the Soviet 5 kg weight category. He earned the title Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1977 and was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1985. Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR (Единая Всесоюзная спортивная классификация was a document which provided general Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Design of the decoration The first design of the Order of Lenin was made of silver with Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Both, Yurik Vardanyan and Yurik Sarkisian set multiple world records during their distinguished careers. Yurik Norairovich Vardanian (Юрик Норайрович Варданян born June 13 1956 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR) is a former Olympic Yurik Sarkisian (Юрик Саркисян (born August 14 1961) was an Olympic weightlifter for the USSR (1980 and Australia
Boxing
Boxing is also a popular sport in Armenia. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, The country has regularly sent competitors to the Olympics but met with little success. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Among the bright stars of boxing in the Armenian world are Khoren Gevor, Vanes Martirosyan, Vic "the Raging Bull" Darchinyan, Arthur Abraham and Alexan Nalbandian, although Darchinyan and Abraham currently represent Australia and Germany respectively in international competitions. Khoren Gevor, born Khoren Gevorgyan (Խորեն Գեվորգյան is an Armenian-German middleweight boxer Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan (Վանես Մարտիրոսյան born in Abovyan, Armenia is an American boxer of Armenian descent Vakhtang "Vic" Darchinyan (Վախթանգ Դարչինյան born 7 January 1976 in Vanadzor, Armenia) is the former IBF "King" Arthur Abraham (born on February 20, 1980 in Yerevan, Armenia) is a Armenian - German professional boxer For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
Chess
Chess remains the most popular mind sport in Armenia. Chess is a recreational and competitive Game played between two players. A game of skill is a Game where the outcome is determined mainly by mental and/or physical Skill, rather than by pure chance. It is widely played in Armenia and in the Armenian diaspora, where the Armenian schools encourage it as a curricular activity. The Armenian diaspora is a term used to describe the communities of Armenians living outside of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Ethnic Armenian chess players have been very successful on the international chess scene. Notable chess players of Armenian descent include Gary Kasparov, Tigran Petrosian, Levon Aronian, Rafael Vaganian and Vladimir Akopian. Garry Kasparov (Га́рри Ки́мович Каспа́ров) (born as Garry Kimovich Weinstein on April 13 1963 in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Tigran Petrosian (Տիգրան Պետրոսյան ( June 17, 1929 &ndash August 13, 1984) was World Chess Champion from 1963 Levon Aronian (Լևոն Արոնյան born 6 October 1982) is an Armenian Chess player Rafael Artemovich Vaganian, also transliterated Vahanyan (Ռաֆայել Վահանյան Рафаэль Артёмович Ваганян is an Armenian In 2006 the Armenian Chess Team of Levon Aronian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian, Karen Asrian, Artashes Minasian, and Smbat Lputian won the Chess Olympiad in Turin. Levon Aronian (Լևոն Արոնյան born 6 October 1982) is an Armenian Chess player Gabriel Sarkisyan ( Armenian Գաբրիել Ազատի Սարգսյան other transcriptions of the name are Sarkissian and Sarkissyan the Karen Asrian ( 24 April 1980 – 9 June 2008) was an Armenian Chess Grandmaster. Artashes Minasian (sometimes transliterated as Minasyan Armenian: Արտաշես Մինասյան born 21 January 1967) is an Armenian Smbat Gariginovich Lputian (sometimes transliterated as Lputyan born February 14, 1958 in Yerevan) is an Armenian Chess The Chess Olympiad is a Biennial Chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other
Other Sports
Other sports played in Armenia are ice hockey, played internationally by the Armenian national ice hockey team, basketball (Armenian basketball) and tennis, where certain members of the Armenian diaspora like Andre Agassi and David Nalbandian have excelled. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Notable games Top players Aram Abrahamyan Karpis Apelyan Manuk Balyan A Karapet Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) The Armenian diaspora is a term used to describe the communities of Armenians living outside of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970 is a former World No 1 professional American Tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments David Nalbandian (born January 1 1982 is an Argentine-Armenian professional Tennis player who is ranked 7th in the world as of August 11 2008
Organizations
Homenetmen and AGBU are the two biggest organizations that are devoted to athletics among Armenians. Homenetmen ՀՄԸՄ (pronounced /ˈhomɛnɛtmɛn/ is an Armenian organization devoted to athletics and Scouting. The Armenian General Benevolent Union (Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն abbreviated as AGBU, established in 1906 is a Non-profit They, notably Homenetmen, have opened chapters all across the globe, wherever an Armenian community is present. Homenetmen ՀՄԸՄ (pronounced /ˈhomɛnɛtmɛn/ is an Armenian organization devoted to athletics and Scouting. Homenetmen organizes the Pan-Homenetmen Games each year, when the organization's members gather in a host city to play friendly matches against each other in various sports such as football, basketball, track and field athletics, ice hockey and volleyball. Homenetmen ՀՄԸՄ (pronounced /ˈhomɛnɛtmɛn/ is an Armenian organization devoted to athletics and Scouting. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet
Modern Rebuilding Efforts
The government of Armenia budgets about $2. Politics of Armenia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President is the Head of government 8 million annually for sports and gives it to the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports, the body that determines which programs should benefit from the funds.
Due to the lack of success lately on the international level, in recent years, Armenia has rebuilt 16 Soviet-era sports schools and furnished them with new equipment for a total cost of $1. 9 million. The rebuilding of the regional schools was financed by the Armenian government. $9. 3 million has been invested in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor to improve the winter sports infrastructure because of dismal performances at recent winter sports events. A winter sport is a Sport commonly played during Winter. As a formal term it refers to a sport played on Snow or Ice, but informally can refer A winter sport is a Sport commonly played during Winter. As a formal term it refers to a sport played on Snow or Ice, but informally can refer In 2005, a cycling center was opened in Yerevan with the aim of helping produce world class Armenian cyclists. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Yerevan (Երևան Երեւան or Երեվան ˌjɛrəˈvɑːn sometimes written as Erevan, Iravan, Erewan, Ayrivan, and Erivan The government has also promised a cash reward of $700,000 to Armenians who win a gold medal at the Olympics. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games [4]
References
External links
See also
- Armenian Premier League
- Armenia national football team
- Armenian U-21 National Football Team
- Armenian national ice hockey team
- Armenia national rugby union team
- Armenia at the Olympics (wikipedia)
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