CivilnetThe Pan-Armenian Winter Games kicked off in the resort town of Jermuk with a spectacular opening ceremony. Jermuk has welcomed more than 1300 athletes from 18 countries for what is only the second winter games in Pan-Armenian history. They will compete in a range of sports from hockey, skiing, snowboarding, and even snowball fighting.
Among the countries participating, Kazakhstan is appearing for the first time, joining those coming from as far as the US, Canada, and Argentina. At just five years old, the games’ youngest competitor, dancer Nikita Kumar Nazaryan, is also India’s lone representative.
The ceremony opened with an impressive performance that brought to life the four elements of nature. The stage was overlooked by a giant deer head, the symbol of Jermuk stemming from an ancient legend. The event culminated with the lighting of the stadium’s cauldron by Paris Olympics silver medalist weightlifter Varazdat Lalayan. The games last for a week with the goal of promoting Armenian unity through sport.
