The 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games started with a solemn ceremony at the Republican Stadium after Stepan Shahumyan in Stepanakert. The honor to light the torch was given to Olympic Champion Hrachya Petikyan, Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Pargev and Albert Boyajyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games.
The sportsmen from Ejmiatsin will take part in arm wrestling, sports dances, chess, football, volleyball and tennis competitions.
More than 5300 sportsmen from 161 cities of 35 countries are taking part in the Games.
The solemn closing ceremony of the Pan-Armenian Games will take place on August 17 in Yerevan Freedom Square.
The first Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 28 to September 5, 1999 in Yerevan. 1141 sportsmen from 63 cities of 23 countries took part in those Games. 529 of the sportsmen were from Armenia and 612 from the Diaspora.
The geography of the Games and the number of sports is expanding year by year.

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