History of the Pan-Armenian Summer and Winter Games
The Pan-Armenian Games began in 1999, but these games were conceived much earlier, during the final years of the Soviet Union, when relations between Armenia and the Diaspora expanded. In October 1990, the Committee of Cultural Relations with the Diaspora decided to hold the first Pan-Armenian Navasartian Games in Yerevan from June 15 to 30, featuring four sports: football, basketball, table tennis, and chess. A month later, the Armenian government approved the program, allowing Deputy Prime Minister, Gdridj Sartarian, to sign the agreement. However, the games did not occur due to the war between Azerbaijan and Artsakh/Armenia.
After the ceasefire, the idea of organizing the Pan-Armenian Games was revived. In 1994, an initiative group was formed within the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in April 1997, during a conference of Armenian sports organizations, an agreement was reached to establish the World Committee for the Pan-Armenian Games. Ashod Melik Shahnazarian, a diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was elected president of the committee.
In 1999, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provided financial support to the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, and the President of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch, sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Armenia. From the outset, Homenetmen played an active role in preparing and developing the rules for the Pan-Armenian Games. The organization had representatives in both the World Committee for the Pan-Armenian Games and its Executive Committee. Homenetmen Central (Executive) Committee member, Yeghpayr Stepan Derbedrossian, served as vice president of the Games. Homenetmen sports teams participated in all summer and winter games.
Below is an overview of the development of the Pan-Armenian Games.
Summer Games
The first Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 28 to September 5, 1999, in Yerevan, with 1,141 male and female athletes from 63 cities worldwide (529 from Armenia, 612 from the Diaspora). Seven sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, and athletics.
The second Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 28 to September 5, 2001, in Yerevan, with 1,419 male and female athletes from 82 cities worldwide (464 from Armenia, 955 from the Diaspora). Nine sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming, and mini-football.
The third Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 16 to 24, 2003, in Yerevan, with 1,559 male and female athletes from 82 cities worldwide (423 from Armenia, 1,136 from the Diaspora). Ten sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming, mini-football, and badminton.
The fourth Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 18 to 26, 2007, in Yerevan, with 1,576 male and female athletes from 28 cities worldwide (425 from Armenia, 1,151 from the Diaspora). Ten sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming, mini-football, and badminton.
The fifth Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 18 to 26, 2011, in Yerevan, with 3,244 male and female athletes from 125 cities worldwide (1,372 from Armenia, 1,872 from the Diaspora). Ten sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming, mini-football and badminton.
The sixth Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 2 to 15, 2015, in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Abovyan, Artashat, and Stepanakert, with 6,352 male and female athletes from 175 cities worldwide. Seventeen sports were featured: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, athletics, swimming, mini-football, badminton, beach volleyball, sport dancing, golf, handball, arm wrestling, cycling, and shooting sports.
The seventh Pan-Armenian Games took place from August 5 to 17, 2019. The opening and the first three days were held in Artsakh (Stepanakert, Martakert, Martuni, Askeran), while from August 9 to 17, the games continued in Armenia. Athletes from 161 cities worldwide participated, with a total of 5,244 male and female athletes. Seventeen sports were featured: athletics, badminton, arm wrestling, basketball, golf, tennis, swimming, beach volleyball, volleyball, handball, cycling, shooting sports, sport dancing, table tennis, football, futsal, and chess.
Winter Games
The first Pan-Armenian Winter Games took place from February 24 to March 2, 2014, in Tsaghkadzor and Yerevan, with 401 male and female athletes from 22 cities worldwide (193 from Armenia, 208 from the Diaspora). Four sports were featured: alpine skiing, skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey.
The second Pan-Armenian Winter Games were held from February 1-7, 2025, in Jermuk, Aparan and Yerevan, with the participation of 1,348 athletes from 88 cities around the world. Seven different sports were practiced: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, dance sports, chess and hockey.