To the question of Aravot of how much funds are allocated from the state budget for the Pan-Armenian Winter Games, Ishkhan Zakaryan, Chairman of World Committee of Pan Armenian games, responded, “The expenditures of athletes’ travel, clothing are covered by the organizations and sponsors, who organize their trips to Armenia. Since the Winter Games are to be held in Armenia for the first time, I have a clear instruction from the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, in support to our countrymen, to organize their lodging, food, take care of the issues like the opening and closing ceremonies, providing sites, and conducting competitions. I must say in advance that no funds were allocated from the state budget.
There is something that I think it is right and justified decision. If a delegation arrives from Syria, we’ll take care of all their costs. I repeat, everything will be done through sponsors, whom I have already applied.” To the question of who the sponsors are, Mr. Zakaryan refrained from giving any names, mentioning, “The name of the sponsors will be made public upon completion of the Games. There might be a problem with the 6th Summer Games, which will take place on August 2015, in the year of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It has been included in the list of state events and a major sporting event will take place. 7-8 sports have been added to the program and participation of about 7 million Diaspora youth is expected. A lot of hard work is expected. It is possible that we might refer to the government’s support for that time. Although, I do not rule out the possibility that there might be one or two sponsors, who would take over all the costs. And it does not matter where they are from. They are Armenians. And they see that the idea is right and sound.”
Ashot Hakobyan
