Yerevan Becomes a Global Center for Boxing

The head of the Armenian Prime Minister's office, Arayik Harutyunyan, attended the opening ceremony of the extraordinary congress of the International Boxing Association (IBA) held at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex today. The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Karen Giloyan, President of the Armenian Boxing Federation Hovhannes Hovsepyan, current President of the International Boxing Federation Umar Kremlev, and representatives of international federations.

Arayik Harutyunyan welcomed the attendees and noted: “This year, Armenia and Yerevan have become one of the global centers for boxing. In May, we hosted the European Boxing Championships, which I believe our partners will remember for many years to come. Today, we are also hosting the congress of the International Boxing Federation. I welcome the participants of the congress and wish them a productive work. This is an important event in the life of the International Boxing Federation. Essentially, decisions are being made here in Yerevan about the future development of the International Boxing Federation and global boxing in the coming years. We are ready to cooperate with the federation in the years to come. The government of Armenia pays great attention to the development of sports in the Republic of Armenia. And, ultimately, we must admit that sports also bring peace to the world. It is no coincidence that numerous calls are made during the Olympic Games and peace is established around the world during those days. I wish for international sporting events to occur so often that peace is permanently established around the world.”

More than 170 representatives from boxing federations from around the world, including prominent figures in the sport, have arrived in Armenia to participate in the congress. A key topic on the agenda of the congress is the election of a new president for the IBA.