Olympics
Meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge in Switzerland on Monday, Gagik Tsarukyan, the President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA), expressed Armenia’s desire to host the third Junior Olympic Games in 2018.

According to a NOCA report (www.armnoc.am), Tsarukyan also offered the IOC and the European Olympic Committee to hold meetings of the executive committees in Armenia where “there are all corresponding conditions for that.” The NOCA president also stressed that Armenia has all necessary sport settings for “competitions of any scale.”

IOC President Rogge reportedly praised Armenia’s efforts in developing sports and said he was aware of large international competitions that Armenia has hosted. Rogge also said that cooperation between the IOC and the NOCA will gradually strengthen, which will “enliven sport life in Armenia.”
(Source: www.armnoc.am)

Judo

The European junior judo championships opened in Yerevan on Friday, with the official weigh-in of athletes, preliminary fights and finals in three out of eight weight categories.

Around 400 athletes from 40 countries of Europe are participating in the championships. Armenia is represented by eight male athletes competing in all weight divisions, and six female athletes competing in five out of eight divisions.

The championships to be held through September 13 are also being attended by participants from Azerbaijan – the first Azeri athletes to visit independent Armenia. Armenian authorities had provided security guarantees to the Azeri athletes and delegation members while they were in the Armenian capital.

In a recent media interview Armenian Judo Federation President Alexan Avetisyan said he expected tough competition for medals at the Yerevan championships. At the same time, he said he hoped for several medals to be won by Armenian sportsmen.

Soccer

Armenia have improved the record in the current FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign after beating Belgium in Yerevan 2-1 on Wednesday. The latest victory still leaves Armenia in the bottom position of the six-nation group with only four points in eight games. Armenia have got a real chance to catch up with and outstrip currently fifth-placed Estonia (5 points) in the two remaining games – against reigning European champion Spain in Yerevan on October 10 and Euro-2008 semifinalist Turkey in Bursa on October 14.

“I notice a qualitative change in the play of the Armenian team. Our team has a potential. One should believe in their own strength and be self-confident,” said Armenia head coach Vardan Minasyan of the team’s performance as he spoke at a press conference after the match.

Meanwhile, Bosnia-Herzegovina took another major step towards finishing second in the group, next to Spain, and hope for winning qualification through a playoff. On Wednesday, the Balkan outfit held their main rival Turkey to a 1-1 draw at home and still have a four-point advantage with only two rounds to go.

Boxing

Three Armenian boxers reached quarterfinals at the continuing AIBA world championships in Milan, Italy. Andranik Hakobyan (75 kg), Azat Hovhannisyan (57 kg) and Hovhannes Danielyan (48 kg) held their fights on Wednesday. Only Hakobyan, however, managed to beat his opponent to reach the semifinal and secure at least a bronze medal for his team.

Six other Armenian boxers in the rest weight divisions were beaten by opponents at earlier staged.

For complete information on the championships, see the official website at www.aiba.org

Chess

Armenian women’s national team (including Elina Danielyan, Lilit Mkrtchyan, Lilit Galoyan, Nelli Aghinyan, Siranush Andriasyan, coach – Arsen Yeghiazaryan) haveg been taking part in the world team championships held in Ningbo, China, September 1-12. The other participants of the championship are the national teams of China (1st and 2nd), Georgia, India, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, the USA, and Vietnam. Armenia finished in the fifth position with 10 points, behind China, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.

Meanwhile, Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronyan has good chances to become the winner of a four-man two-round Grand Slam Masters Final being in Bilbao, Spain, September 5-12. His opponents are Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Sergey Karyakin (Ukraine), Alexei Shirov (Spain).

After the fourth-round victory over Grischuk Aronyan has nine points (3 points are awarded for a win according to this tournament’s regulations), with one defeat and three victors. With two more games to play, Aronyan is in clear first place with a 3-point advantage over the Russian.

(More information is available here http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/2009/en_index.asp)