We talked to world-famous Armenian boxer Artur Abraham in the National Assembly about the development of sports in Armenia, the sports school named after him, and his family.
Artur Abraham last visited the National Assembly a year ago to discuss some issues related to the park named after him, sports school, and sports. He said that the park is already ready. “The opening will be on June 1. However, I came to the National Assembly to make a decision with the government, to open the Artur Abraham sports school not only for boxing, but also for football, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, song, dance, painting, separate fitness for women, separate for men, so that everyone will be able to use it, and it won’t just be in one direction. The public should be given the opportunity not only to play professional sports, but also to play healthy sports, so that they do not walk like that, be healthy, live long, because sport is life. One percent of people become professionals. The rest train for health, which is more important. We have submitted the issue of the sports school to the government, the government must decide.”
In response to the question of if he is satisfied with the investments that the government is making in sports today, because during this time some athletes announced that they were leaving Armenia and left, Abraham answered, “If an athlete leaves Armenia, let them go, but I come to Armenia as an athlete. I want to be useful to my nation as much as I can. The park is ready, we will build the school, I will contribute to that school. I can do my best. If the government helps, we will do more. Let the others go, but I am coming back to Armenia because I love my homeland.” We asked if he would live in Armenia from now on, and he answered that he had mostly been in Armenia, he just went and came. “I go to Germany and I come back. If I do not go, I will not be able to earn money to invest here.”
We inquired if he had said goodbye to the boxer’s career and from now on, he would enjoy his life, could he enjoy it, Artur Abraham answered, “Of course. I enjoy my life 100% because when I wake up in the morning, my 3 children are by my side, they come to my bed, there is no greater pleasure than that. At that time I always had to wake up at 6:15 in the morning, I had a class at 7, 10:30, 5 PM. It was a different life then, but now I enjoy it, I take care of my children, I can have breakfast with my family, which I have not seen in my life for 20 years. I used to wake up and run to class. No professional athlete lives a good life. We do not need to wear a suit at all, because we do not go anywhere, we live in the same room every day, eating is free, drinking is free, clothes are free, but you do not go anywhere to eat, drink, train and so on. And so your young years go by. People know you have a strong life, you have a name, you have success, but there are a lot of disadvantages in return.”
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We also asked about politics. He lives in this city, he knows what is happening, the opposition has closed the streets and demands a change of government, so what is his position? Artur Abraham answered, “I am a person far from politics. I am a sports boy and I do not want to get involved in politics. There is no need. I am on the side of the people, I am the son of the people. I do not understand politics. That is why I do not stick my nose in it. I am not involved. I have no right to give the wrong advice.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
