YEREVAN – On December 11th, the Youth Foundation of Armenia awarded the best student-athletes of the 13th Republican Students’ Games, which were devoted to the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
The awards were given by the Minister of Education and Science, the President of the Student Federation of Sports Mr Armen Ashotyan. The Minister stated that the development of student sports in Armenia is very important. There are many tasks to be done for the further development of the student sports in Armenia. In some higher institutions there is a lack of gyms and gym facilities. ‘However, it is obvious, that our students continue to record successes in both national and international arenas’, stated the Minister.
It is also an undeniable fact, that the culture of a healthy lifestyle is being developed in Armenia. Although the finances and infrastructures are very important, it is also worth considering the treatment of sports, physical culture and healthy lifestyle. From this perspective, the most important mission of these games is not to discover new winners among students, but to impulse student sports and to create the very culture of healthy lifestyle among them. The Minister also informed that in 2012 the Student Federation of Armenia has become a member of the European University Sports Association and Armenian student teams participated in the EUSA games.
In October 2013, the EUSA board meeting will take place in Yerevan during which the development of the priorities of the sports games in Armenia will be discussed.
The Minister of Education and Science also stated that the 2013 Summer Universiade, which will be held in Kazan, is of vital importance. An Armenian delegation will also take part in these FISU games.
The coordinator of the Youth Foundation in Armenia, Mr Karen Avagyan added that the programs, which are implemented for the development of a healthy lifestyle, are very important. In addition, he stated that the Youth Foundation will support all kinds of initiatives, which are directed towards the development of a healthy lifestyle in Armenia. In the future, the Youth Foundation will support all the athletes who will represent Armenia in the different international arenas.
The 13th Republican Sports Games were organized by the Student Federation of Armenia and during these games about 2,000 student-athletes from 20 different higher education institutions took part. The students participated in 8 different sports, i.e. swimming, basketball, volleyball, chess, table tennis, running, futsal and handball. There were 14 championships in the above mentioned sports.
(Source: ARMSSF/EUSA)