7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games kick off in Karabakh (PHOTOS)

By Lusine Shahbazyan

STEPANAKERT. – The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on Tuesday evening declared—in Stepanakert—the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games open (PHOTOS).

More than 5,300 athletes from 145 cities of 35 countries will compete for 11 days.

For several hours on Tuesday, the capital city of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was transformed into the center of Armenians worldwide.

The event organizers’ promises that this opening ceremony will be the best in its 20-year history were fulfilled.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Bako Sahakyan, director of the National Security Service of Armenia as well as president of the Football Federation of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan, speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, and several other officials were on hand at the opening ceremony of the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games.

In addition to the participating athletes, a large number of fans also were at the Republican Stadium in Stepanakert.

Over 5,000 athletes and coaches walked through the stadium during the march of the participating sports delegations.

After the torch of the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games was lit, there was a magnificent fireworks display, and then Nikol Pashinyan declared the Games open.

The closing ceremony of the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games will take place on August 17 in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. 

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