Armenian MP Naira Karapetyan delivers speech at PACE on biased, unjust refereeing of Mihran Harutyunyan’s bout in Rio

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian lawmaker Naira Karapetyan delivered a speech in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

ARMENPRESS presents the full speech:

“The report concerns an issue, which at first glance might seem not very important, but actually is a field which unites persons, people and societies. Sport indeed has international recognition. And it definitely should be independent and distant from politics, injustice and inequality, in any form. Sport must be clear and clean. And indeed the most desired high goal of any athlete is the Olympic victory.

This year was an Olympic year, and many of the countries present here had the privilege to take part and win in those games. My country also has a gold medal, and I would like to once again congratulate Armenian wrestler Arthur Alexanyan on becoming Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling.

But unfortunately, as we see, there are many injustices in sports also, when referees don’t rely on conscience and rules, but attempt to deliver some services for some influential people. A striking example of this we witnessed during the Rio Games, when Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestler Mihran Harutyunyan lost the gold medal and won silver only because of biased and unfair refereeing. One doesn’t need to be an expert to be convinced in what I said, it is enough to watch the surprise and attitude of those present, when the results were announced: everyone was booing the so-called champion and applauding Mihran. This isn’t the only example: we witnessed the same in boxing – Narek Abgaryan and Hovhannes Bachkov were also victims of unfair referees.

Dear colleagues, I urge the Parliamentary Assembly not to turn a blind eye on this and take relevant measures and affect various international sport federations, especially the Greco-Roman federation, carry out a united struggle and restore justice. Any manifestation of injustice overshadows not only the reputation of the Olympic Games, but also breaks the essence of sports, the faith and hope of victory, training and moving forward.

Father of the modern Olympic Games Pierre De Coubertin once said: The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing inLifeis not triumph, but the struggle. Let me add: If hope dies as result of injustice, no one will ever have faith in sport.

Therefore, dear colleagues, let’s restore the faith.”