YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with members of the Pan-Armenian Games World Committee in Stepanakert, Artsakh.

The 7th Pan-Armenian Games will kick off today in a ceremonial inauguration in the Artsakh capital.

Pashinyan told the representatives that he is excitingly waiting for the opening ceremony, which according to organizers will be a high level event.

The Armenian PM highlighted the importance of holding the Games in Artsakh.

“I find it very meaningful that the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games are taking place in Stepanakert, Artsakh. I said also yesterday that it from the organization of the Pan-Armenian Games in Artsakh the idea was born that the Games can be a very important and good arena for our pan-national conversation. I think it is very useful for us to be truly able to enhance the pan-Armenian idea more. From this perspective the Pan-Armenian Games certainly have a very important and exclusive significance,” he said.

He also valued the event in terms of development of sports. “The Pan-Armenian Games must become a good platform for discovering talented athletes of the Armenian nation and considering the possibilities of including them in Armenia’s national teams, in order for Armenia’s sports glory to maximally grow, because I am sure that these resources exist in the world”.

Deputy PM of Armenia Tigran Avinyan briefed that the organizational matters are proceeding normally. He said that 161 cities from 35 countries are participating with an overall number of delegates reaching 5300. The largest delegation comes from Russia – 368 athletes from 14 cities.

This year, the athletes from the UAE, Iraq and the Czech Republic are participating for the first time. The United States delegation this year is composed of 318 participants – the largest American delegation to the Games ever.

The PM and the Pan-Armenian Games World Committee members exchanged ideas over the further development of the event.

The organization of winter and paralympic games were also discussed.

This year the Pan-Armenian Games are co-hosted by Armenia and Artsakh. The opening ceremony, and a number of tournaments will be held in Artsakh.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan