The ceremonial opening of the 8th All-Armenian Summer Games will take place in Gyumri on August 5.
Final preparations are being made in this city. In 4 days, they will receive a record number of guests; some countries are participating for the first time; they have never participated in the Pan-Armenian Games in 25 years. For example, this is Saudi Arabia; they are preparing to host our compatriots from there.
One hundred seventy-eight cities from 41 countries are participating. The grand opening ceremony will begin with a big sports parade.
Consultations are held almost every day in the private room of Shirak Governor Mushegh Muradyan, with the participation of other high-ranking officials of the region, particularly representatives of the power structures.
Read also
In an interview with Aravot.am, Shirak Governor Mushegh Muradyan said: “The Pan-Armenian Games is a festive event for the entire nation. You walk through the streets of Gyumri and see that the topic of people’s conversation these days is the Pan-Armenian Games.
The government, the staff of the Governor of Shirak, spares no effort and energy so that we can organize the event properly and be presentable. We are repairing roads, in the area adjacent to the stadium, about 3,000 linear meters, we have carried out asphalting works a little more.
We have furnished and repaired the places where the games will be held, say, gymnasiums. We hope that on August 5, we will be able to welcome our guests the way Gyumri people imagine.
There will be about 7,000 delegates, maybe a little more, the application period has ended, but many people want to participate as visitors. Many cities are participating in the Games for the first time. We will welcome around 11,000 guests.”
Aravot.am asked Mushegh Muradyan whether Gyumri has enough hotels and guesthouses to host such a large number of people.
“In Gyumri, we have about 2,000 hotel rooms and places to stay. Since Gyumri is a tourist center, regardless of the Pan-Armenian Games, our hotels are already overcrowded. I don’t think there will be any problems, we are doing everything possible to welcome the guests with honor,” said the Governor.
To our question, what work is being done to urge the owners of guesthouses and hotels to refrain from embarrassing Gyumri by increasing the overnight prices three or four times in many cases? The Governor answered: “We held discussions. We want to inform you that August 5 is not our last day of using the hotel room. Let’s not be guided by that principle; the impression of our guests is significant; we have said that if the guests are going to spend their last penny here, they should not spend it only on hotel rooms. We speak, we urge, we demand, we are always in discussions, we are working in this direction.”
Nune AREVSHATYAN
