Officials from Moscow and Yerevan have formalised new agreements to deepen sporting ties following high-level talks. The partnership focuses on shared training infrastructure while maintaining a long-term policy of institutional cooperation.
According to Russian news agency TASS, the Russian Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Armenia have reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral sporting development. Following a meeting at the ROC headquarters earlier this week, Russian Sports Minister and ROC President Mikhail Degtyarev and ARMNOC President Gagik Tsarukyan outlined several key areas of ongoing and future collaboration.
A central pillar of the partnership remains the shared legacy of the Soviet sports training system. Degtyarev highlighted the Tsakhkadzor sports centre, originally constructed in 1967 to prepare athletes for the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968, as a prime example of functional cooperation. The high-altitude facility continues to serve as a primary training base for both Russian and Armenian national squads.
The dialogue also touched upon recent successful joint events, including youth basketball matches and the participation of Armenian judokas in the ‘Olympic Dream’ anniversary tournament in Yalta. Additionally, Russian athletes recently competed in the second Pan-Armenian Winter Games, further solidifying the exchange of personnel across various disciplines.
Technical cooperation between individual sporting bodies has accelerated over the past year. In 2025, an indefinite cooperation agreement was signed in Yerevan between the respective badminton federations of both nations. Similar developments have been noted in sailing, specifically with the organisation of the I. S. Isakov memorial tournament on Lake Sevan.
Armenian athletes have also become regular fixtures in the Russian competitive calendar, notably participating in the Gelendzhik Regatta. Furthermore, the Armenian delegation remains a consistent participant in the International Forum of Young Olympians held annually in Moscow.
The current state of relations follows a clear policy framework established by ARMNOC in 2023. During that period, the Armenian federation voiced strong support for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the international arena. ARMNOC Secretary General Hrachya Rostomyan famously described the ROC as a ‘brother’ organisation and issued a formal pledge that Armenia would not ‘poach’ Russian athletes during their period of international sanction.
While several high-profile athletes have recently transitioned to representing Armenia – including tennis player Elina Avanesyan and the figure skating pair Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin – these switches are based on the personal initiative of the athletes. The committee has consistently avoided active recruitment of Russian talent, adhering to its 2023 commitment to support the ROC’s institutional standing rather than exploiting its competitive challenges.
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