“The National Olympic Committee of Armenia, headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, is ready to become a bridge to ensure an active dialogue between the sports world of Russia and the West, to discuss all issues and jointly find solutions to overcome the situation. Hrachya Rostomyan, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, said about this in an interview with “Aravot”.
He referred to the first forum of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association held yesterday in Armenia, during which the President of the Ukrainian Sports Association, Gagik Tsarukyan, was elected the president of the association. According to Rostomyan, it was the request of all members of the association, which was raised by the president of the association, Azat Muradov.
“He made a rather extensive speech, where he spoke in detail about the tremendous work that Mr. Tsarukyan has carried out in the field of sports these years. Muradov noted that Gagik Tsarukyan has devoted most of his life to the development of sports both in Armenia and in the region, and his investments and work have been visible to the international Olympic community as well. Taking all of this into account, Mr. Muradov conveyed to Gagik Tsarukyan the request of the members of the association to head that important sports structure. and I should note that the President of the Ukrainian National Association of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches responded with great love to their request, stressing that he is ready to become a unifying force and a bridge between sports families of Europe and Asia,” he said.
As for the forum, Rostomyan described it as an event of exceptional importance and a great honor to host such a level initiative in Armenia. The geography of the forum was wide: Germany, China, Moldova, Lithuania, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and a number of other countries express their willingness to unite in order to further strengthen sports cooperation.
“This is a platform where sport becomes a unifying force. The strategic goal of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association is to develop sports at the international level, to ensure dialogue between states in order to exchange leading experiences. The National Olympic Committee of Armenia has always welcomed and supported the initiatives of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association. We are sure that they will help the development of both domestic and international sports, and will help partner states to further deepen cooperation and the implementation of joint projects. This conference creates a very serious opportunity to work for all of us, in terms of sharing experience, implementation of joint projects. And if shorter, this is a bridge between the sports worlds of Europe and Asia,” he emphasized.
When asked why Russia did not participate in the forum, Hrachya Rostomyan stated that, unfortunately, sport has also become a part of big politics and there is an element of injustice here, because the Russian Olympic Committee, sports departments, and athletes have always been represented on such platforms.
“And I think that this is where our mission is important. The National Olympic Committee of Armenia, headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, is ready to become a bridge to ensure an active dialogue between the sports world of Russia and the West, to discuss all issues and jointly find solutions to overcome the situation. The NOAC is ready to act as a host for joint gatherings of athletes from different countries, because our sports facilities, climate, geographical relief, a number of they are exceptionally comfortable for sports destinations. We are also ready to implement major joint projects for the exchange of coaches and sports specialists, to combine efforts for the purpose of developing sports at the international level and exchanging leading experience between several states of the Eurasian continent,” he added.
Rostomyan also commented on the news spread the day before that the Weightlifting Federation applied to the court, demanding to recognize the powers of NAOC President Gagik Tsarukyan and members of the audit committee as having ceased to exist on September 9, 2025. First of all, he stressed that the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, as well as its leadership, carry out their duties and powers according to the Charter of the Olympic Committee of the Olympic Committee and the Olympic Charter of the International Olympic Committee.
“Elected officials continue to perform their functions until the first special session of the General Assembly of the NAOC is held. Until that session is held, their tenure continues. The special session of the General Assembly was scheduled for April 11, 2026 at 15:00. However, only one of the many members of the NAOC, the President of the Weightlifting Federation, upon receiving the agenda, decided not to submit any proposals regarding the agenda items. including in terms of nominations, and decided that it should hinder the normal work of the committee.
In the current situation, I consider it important to emphasize that we see the solution of this issue in the legal domain and will be guided by legal mechanisms. Our legal team is working in this direction and the resolution of this issue will be in favor of us and our sports world. As for the reaction of the sports world, I think that the representatives of the field should approach this situation with Olympic calmness and calmness. We have been united in all situations and I am sure that we will overcome this unpleasant stage with the same unity. Nothing can disrupt the unity of the Armenian sports world, with which we have always stood out and which has been the basis of all our victories over the years,” Hrachya Rostomyan added.
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