Asbarez - July 18, 1996

ARMENIAN ATHLETES ARRIVE IN ATLANTA FOR OLYMPIC GAMES

ATLANTA -A more than 60-member Armenian Olympic delegation arrived in Atlanta, Georgia Monday evening to take part in the Centennial Olympic Games. The first-ever team representing Armenia was soon caught up in the Olympic fever that had swept across Atlanta, according to a press release from Team Armenia, Inc. More than 15,000 athletes from 197 countries will compete in the 26th Olympic Games. More than two million visitors are expected to attend the Games, while many more will watch telecasts or become a part of the one hundred-year-old tradition via E-mail and the Internet. Armenian Olympic Committee US representatives and local community members greeted the 30 athletes, 25 coaches and seven officials that arrived at Atlanta's International Airport. The Armenian delegation members were honored during a dinner Tuesday evening, following a special church service at St. Ann Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Arch. Khajag Barsamian officiated the services. He was joined by Rev. Nerses Jebejian and a Florida parish church choir. Arch. Jebejian compared the service, during which athletes were blessed and received communion, to events that must have transpired the night before the Vartanantz Battle in 451 A.D. Armenians from various East Coast communities also attended the service. Master of Ceremonies Dr. Vartan Kasabian introduced AOC Chief of Mission Arthur Gevorkian, who in turn introduced each member of team. Also speaking at the event were AOC Envoy Aris Mirijanian and AOC Attache Ara Keefer (Lousararian). Armenian National Assembly member and chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on the Interior and Defense Samvel Gevorkian read a statement from President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In his message to the athletes, Ter-Petrosyan encouraged them to "compete with integrity and do their best." Ter-Petrosyan's message conveyed to the athletes that all of Armenia, the Diaspora, and Nagorno-Karabakh are behind them. Gevorkian thanked the small Armenian community in Atlanta for its efforts to assist the team. On behalf of Team Armenia, Inc., President Ashot Mirijanian explained his organization's involvement in the Games noting that Team Armenia, Inc. was established at the request of the AOC to raise funds for the team's trip to Atlanta. Mirijanian thanked all those who supported his organization's efforts, and introduced Western US representatives of the fundraising drive Mr. and Mrs. George and Flora Dounaian and Eastern US representatives Mr. and Mrs. Garbis and Arsho Kazandjian. Gifts were presented to each member of the delegation, including cameras to capture the memories from the Games.

List of participants from Armenia

Free-Style Wrestling
(Head Coach Hrant Yenokian)
Armen Mkrtchian-1973, Ararat 1992-1st place, European Jr. Championships 1993-1st place, World Jr. Championships 1994-1st place, European Championships 1995-3rd place, World Championships 1996-2nd place, European Championships

Arayik Gevorkian-1973, Artashat region, Kaghtsrashen village 1992-1st place, European Jr. Championships 1993-1st place, World Jr. Championships 1992-1996-European Championships 1995-1st place, World Championships

Greco-Roman Wrestling
(Head Coach Aram Sargsian)
Armen Nazarian-1974, Massis 1994-1995-1st place, European Championships 1995-2nd place, World Championships

Aghasi Manoukian-1967, Gumri 1993-1st place, World Championships 1994-1995-2nd place, European Championships

Mkhitar Manoukian-1973, Gumri 1995-3rd place, World Championships 1996-European Championships

Samvel Manoukian-1974, Gumri Multiple National Champion

Levon Geghamian-1977, Akhourian 1994-1st place, World Jr. Championships

Tzolak Yeghishian-1970, Gumri Multiple National Champion

Boxing
(Head Coach Rafik Mehrabian)
Nshan Mounchian-1963, Yerevan 1987-1st place, European Championships 1993-1st place, World Championships 1994-World Cup Recipient

Lernik Papian-1966, Vanadzor Multiple Soviet All-Union Champion 1993-5th place, World Championships; World Cup

Arthur Gevorkian-1975, Yerevan Multiple National Champion 1996-5th place, European Championships

Mekhak Ghazarian-1966, Gumri 1986-Participant, Goodwill Games 1987-1st place, European Championships 1988-Participant, Olympic Games

Arthur Mikayelian-1970, Vanadzor 1995-3rd place, World Championships Multiple World, National Champion

Weightlifting
(Head Coach Vahan Pichakhchian; Coach Ashot Jeyranian)
Edward Darbinian-1971, Yerevan 1991-1st place, World Jr. Championships 1993-1994-3rd place, European Championships

Haik Yeghiazarian-1972, Yerevan 1994-3rd place, European Championships

Israel Militonian-1968, Gumri 1992-1st Place, Olympic Games 1992-1st place, World Championships Multiple European Champion; World Record breaker

Khachatour Kiapanaktzian-1968, Gumri 1993-1st place, European Championships; Record breaker 1995-2nd place, World Championships

Hovhannes Barseghian, 1970, Gumri 1995-3rd place, European Championships

Sergo Chakhoyan-1969, Gumri 1994-1st place, World Championships 1994-1995-2nd place, 3rd place (with record), World Championships

Aleksan Karapetian, 1970 Gumri 1995-3rd place, World Championships 1995-3rd place, European Championships

Aghvan Grikorian-1969, Gumri 1994-3rd place, World Championships 1994-2nd place, European Championships 1995-3rd place, European Championships

Ara Vartanian-1974, Armavir region, Bambakashat village 1993-1st place (with record), World Jr. Championships 1995-3rd place, European Championships

Ashot Danielian-1974, Yerevan 1994-1st place (with record), World Jr. Championships 1994-3rd place, European Jr. Championships

Arsen Melikian-1976, Yerevan Multiple National Champion

Diving
(Head Coach Robert Grikorian)
Hovhannes Aftandilian-1978, Yerevan 1995- Participant, World Cup competition Multiple National Champion

Arousiak Gyulbadaghian-1979, Yerevan Multiple National Championship Participant, Multiple International Competitions

Gymnastics
(Head Coach Aleksan Gabrielian)
Norayr Sargsian-1974, Parakar Multiple National Champion 15th place, European Championships

Track and Field
Long Jump
Robert Emiyan-1965, Gumri 1986-1987-1st place, European Indoor Championships 1986-1st place (Record 8.61m), Goodwill Games 1987-Winner, European Cup (Record 8.86 m) 1987-2nd place, World Championships

Triple Jump
Armen Martirossian-1969, Gumri 1995-2nd place, International Competition (16.86 m) 1996-3rd place, European Winter Championships (16.74m)

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