Armenian Athlete's Day
On May 8 and 15, 2021, the first online sports conference declared July 22 as "Armenian Athlete's Day" and presented the following recommendations to the responsible bodies of Homenetmen regions:
a) From now on, July 22 shall be considered "Armenian Athlete's Day" in Homenetmen’s calendars and annual programs, similar to how Vartanants is recognized as "Armenian Scout Day."
b) On July 22, or the days preceding and following it, “Armenian Athelete’s Day” shall be properly marked with public ceremonies and promotional initiatives, highlighting the region’s sports achievements, as well as the teams and athletes who have achieved outstanding results.
c) On this occasion, experienced Homenetmen members who have made significant contributions to the development of sports in their region and country—as athletes, coaches, referees, or sports administrators—shall be recognized and honored.
d) Athletes, teams, and Homenetmen chapters that have demonstrated "the best sportsmanship,” 'the greatest progress,” and “the highest achievement” in sports over the past year shall be evaluated and honored.
e) In addition to public events, internal seminars and discussion meetings shall be organized for the region’s athletes, coaches, referees, and sports coordinators, focusing on Homenetmen’s sports values and modern methods of preserving and further developing them.
f) Commemorative evenings or sports tournaments shall be held in honor of distinguished athletes who have passed away. On this occasion, special recognition shall be given to the founder of the union and the creator of the first Armenian sports newspaper, Shavarsh Krissian, whose birthday—July 22, 1886— shall be honored.
g) Social gatherings, banquets, and events shall be organized on this occasion, with proceeds allocated to support the region’s sports teams and their needs.
h) Special attention shall be given to young athletes by introducing them to the significance of “Armenian Athletes Day” from an early age and instilling the importance of the Homenetmen Athlete’s commandments. Veteran athletes shall be invited to visit the teams and share their experiences and memories.
Naturally, in addition to the above initiatives, Homenetmen regions may undertake other activities that contribute to making "Armenian Athlete’s Day" a bigger celebration, making it a highly anticipated and cherished event in the sports community year after year.