Armenia holds first Forum on Strategic and Systemic Reforms in Sport

The Forum on Strategic and Systemic Reforms in Sport was held at the Yerevan State Sports College of Olympic Reserve, marking the first conference organized in this format with the participation of key stakeholders in the sector.

The event opened with remarks by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan.

Deputy Minister Arthur Martirosyan, Khoren Zargaryan, Director of the Sports Management Center, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, sports federations, sports schools in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia, and partner private organizations also attended the event.

Minister Andreasyan stressed the need to make such discussions regular, noting that there is an intention to turn the forum into an annual platform.

“This will be a good opportunity for various organizations and representatives active in the sports sector to come together, summarize the work carried out, discuss upcoming tasks and joint programs, as well as possibilities for implementing them more effectively,” she said, according to a ministry transcript published online. 

Andreasyan said that the forum’s agenda covers the Government’s main strategic directions in the sports sector, ranging from high-performance and mass sports to infrastructure development, public-private partnerships, the organization of international competitions, and digitalization of the sector.

State funding for the sports sector has increased significantly

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport presented the figures for state funding of the sector. “Compared with 2018, we have a 15-fold increase in state allocations for mass sports, while allocations for high-performance sports have increased almost fivefold. This means that state allocations directed toward sports have increased on a larger scale,” she said.

The minister emphasized that the increase in funding is directed toward specific targets and the implementation of programs, including the development of sports infrastructure. Such work has also been carried out at the Yerevan State Sports College of Olympic Reserve, where the forum was held. It was noted that during the college’s 55-year history, the volume of allocations made over just the past five years has been so large that allocations made before that period amounted to less than 10 percent of that figure.

“All this is creating new sports infrastructure and opportunities, which, on the one hand, create new conditions for sports education and, on the other hand, allow sports federations to cooperate with the college within the framework of their events and programs and make use of this infrastructure,” Zhanna Andreasyan said, pointing to the already operational weightlifting hall as a successful example. She noted that the facility has become a good platform for the Weightlifting Federation.

Zhanna Andreasyan added that last year alone, work was carried out at around 100 sports facilities through the ministry’s budget, subsidy programs, and other initiatives.

Around 100 art and sports schools to be built or reconstructed

According to the minister, the Government’s new program places greater emphasis on the development of sports infrastructure. Following the example of the programs for 300 schools and 500 kindergartens, a program is also planned for the construction and reconstruction of around 100 art and sports schools and their provision with new equipment.

“The state has never had a systematic and consistent policy aimed at improving and modernizing conditions in sports schools. We have had individual measures to address certain necessary and mainly urgent issues, but now, through this systematic and consistent program, we will be able to bring around 50 of our sports schools fully up to new, modern standards,” Zhanna Andreasyan said.

She said that modern infrastructure should not only contribute to the development of high-performance sports but also change society’s attitude toward healthy lifestyles and physical activity. In this context, Zhanna Andreasyan also addressed the attitude toward physical education that has developed in schools over the years. According to her, this has resulted in a situation where indicators of children’s physical health and participation in sports have declined significantly.

According to the minister, there are still schools today that do not have gyms, and as part of their comprehensive reconstruction, gyms are also being built from scratch. The Government’s new program aims to ensure that every child has access to sports infrastructure and the opportunity to participate in their preferred sport.

Sports complexes through public-private partnerships in enlarged communities

Zhanna Andreasyan also emphasized the involvement of the private sector, noting that the state does not intend to carry out the entire process of developing sports infrastructure on its own.

According to her, public-private cooperation is developing in two main directions. The first is the creation of sports infrastructure in cooperation with the private sector. Standard sports complexes are planned to be built in enlarged communities, and tenders have already been announced for the construction of three such facilities in Ararat, Yeghegnadzor, and Martuni. Once built by the state, the sports complexes are planned to be transferred to the private sector for fiduciary management.

The second direction is the financing of priority state programs at sports facilities owned or operated by the private sector. Children’s swimming lessons are already being funded, and the list of sports has been expanded. Zhanna Andreasyan said that private shooting ranges and cross-country skiing facilities may also be included in the program, as a result of which children’s training sessions will be funded by the state.

Around 25,000 schoolchildren participate in the Prime Minister’s Cups

In the context of developing mass sports, the minister also emphasized the creation of a competitive environment and the organization of the “Prime Minister’s Cup” competitions. According to her, around 25,000 schoolchildren participated in these competitions last year. In Zhanna Andreasyan’s assessment, the figure has improved compared with the first year, but it is still insufficient in the context of the total number of school-age children. The number of participants is expected to steadily increase by expanding the competitions and opportunities to participate in sports at schools.

At least two major international championships in Armenia every year

In the context of internationalizing sports, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said that one of the goals is to make Armenia a sustainable platform for hosting international competitions.

“Under the Government’s new program, we will set ourselves the task of hosting at least two European or World Championships in Olympic sports every year,” Zhanna Andreasyan said.

The minister emphasized that in recent years Armenia has accumulated considerable experience in hosting international competitions, while each new championship contributes to the development of organizational capabilities. As the most prominent example, she pointed to the European Shooting Championship, noting that despite the technical and organizational challenges, it was held at a high level.

Zhanna Andreasyan recalled that in 2027, Armenia is scheduled to host the 10th Francophone Games, featuring ten sports, as well as the European Gymnastics Championships, the World Weightlifting Championships, the European Karate Championships for athletes under 21, and other competitions.

New football stadium to be built in Ijevan, reconstruction planned in Vanadzor

Among the major international events, Zhanna Andreasyan also highlighted the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Ahead of the tournament, a stadium with a capacity of 10,000 spectators that meets UEFA Category 4 requirements is planned to be built in Ijevan, while the Vanadzor stadium is planned to be reconstructed.

At the same time, the minister emphasized that the internationalization of sports also entails ensuring international standards and the rules of fair play, joining relevant conventions, as well as improving the quality of refereeing and increasing the number of international-level Armenian referees, which, in her assessment, is of key importance.

Digitalization as a priority

Another important focus of the forum was the digitalization of the sports sector. According to Zhanna Andreasyan, the introduction of the Sports Management Information System is a priority.

“This entire volume of work cannot be carried out effectively if we do not have an appropriate set of digital tools that can both significantly make our lives easier and increase transparency and accountability from the perspective of the public,” the minister said.

Sports Expo to be held in cooperation with the private sector

A Sports Expo is planned to be held in Armenia in 2027 through public-private cooperation. The initiative aims to bring together on a single platform representatives of various sports, Armenian and internationally recognized athletes, as well as companies operating in the sports sector.

“This is an entirely new experience for us; nothing like this has been organized in Armenia. It is particularly encouraging that the proposal came from the private sector. This will be a very important impetus for the commercialization of sports,” the minister said, thanking all parties involved in the initiative for their joint work.

According to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, various educational institutions will also be involved in the expo, providing them with an opportunity to increase their visibility, acquire new partners, and implement joint programs. The possibility of concluding the expo with a “Best of the Year” awards ceremony in the sports sector is also being discussed.

According to Khoren Abrahamyan, a representative of the “Sport Space Foundation,” negotiations are already underway to involve athletes of international caliber, and the project is planned to become a recurring event. He said that sports equipment, sportswear and nutrition, as well as other products and services related to sports and healthy lifestyles, will be presented at the expo. Representatives of well-known foreign companies are also planned to be invited to Armenia. Separate booths are planned for athletes, where they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, interact, and exchange experiences. The initiative will also include a charitable component.

In conclusion, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport expressed hope that the first Forum on Strategic and Systemic Reforms in Sport would become a continuing platform for discussing the sector’s challenges, tasks, and development directions with the participation of the state, sports organizations, and the private sector.

The forum also addressed issues related to cooperation between the Sports Management Center and federations, the operation of fitness centers and new regulations for coach certification, as well as improving the quality of the organization of Armenian championships.