Basketball Festival in Yerevan: Armenian National Team in Major Championship

From July 11-20, Yerevan will host the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B, with around 400 participants from 21 countries expected. The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, and the Secretary General of the Armenian Basketball Federation, Arthur Nazaryan, presented the preparation process for the European Championship and addressed organizational issues during a meeting with journalists.

In the history of team sports in Armenia, record numbers of participants are expected. Minister Andreasyan emphasized the importance of hosting the U20 European Basketball Championship, noting that it aligns perfectly with the government’s state policies and strategies. She stated, “The government of Armenia promotes the hosting of large international competitions in our country, and after the hockey and karate championships, this will be the third major tournament of the year. A volleyball tournament is also planned.”

According to her, the strategy for physical culture and sports for 2024-2030 emphasizes the encouragement of team sports, and the basketball championship is part of this context. “With the collaboration of the Armenian Basketball Federation, we launched the 'School Basketball League' for the first time this year, generating significant interest among children, with over 8,700 students participating in the community phase. The final match and the presence of fans demonstrated that the potential for engaging in team sports in our country is immense,” she noted, expressing hope that many fans will support the national team during these days.

The minister assessed that a major sports festival is forthcoming, with 21 teams and approximately 400 participants, along with around 1,000 foreign fans and volunteers. This is a record in terms of participation in international competitions organized for team sports in Armenia.

Andreasyan highlighted that fan support will strengthen the Armenian national team's performance. The matches will be broadcast on First Channel and on the international federation's YouTube channel, increasing visibility for Armenia. “The government is providing full financing. During the preparation for the championship, infrastructure improvements have also been made, which will contribute to the development of basketball in our country,” Andreasyan concluded, thanking partners for their collaborative efforts and organizational work.

She called on fans to be as active as possible and buy tickets to encourage athletes with their presence. Andreasyan emphasized that the active support of fans would further solidify the successful performance of the Armenian team.

Regarding the development of club and university sports, Minister Andreasyan pointed out that the growth of club sports is crucial for both basketball and other sports. In this context, she addressed the newly adopted draft law on 'Higher Education and Science' by the National Assembly, which emphasizes the development of student sports and the formation of clubs. “In various countries, especially in basketball, the development of sports is ensured through university clubs. We particularly aim to encourage the formation of sports clubs within educational institutions, connecting this with the educational process. This institutional encouragement will provide opportunities for the development of student club sports. Some universities are already creating teams from various sports. We will also consider the formation of separate leagues. This could create a very good environment for ensuring engagement in the sport at an older age. Teams will also have a larger selection of players from clubs,” Andreasyan outlined.

According to Arthur Nazaryan, the Secretary General of the Armenian Basketball Federation, the U20 national team has been undergoing a training camp for over a month, having played several friendly matches against strong teams from Russia and Switzerland. A friendly match against Georgia is also scheduled for July 9, which is a strong team as well. Nazaryan stated that many teams will arrive in Yerevan, anticipating tough competition. “There are no weak opponents in the championship; all teams are quite strong, and we expect serious competition. Latvia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Croatia are among the favorites, which are basketball powerhouses. The Armenian team will play its first match against Latvia, which will be quite a serious challenge,” noted the federation’s secretary general.

He assessed that the Armenian basketball players are fully prepared for the championship and possess sufficient potential, asserting that reaching the top ten would be a considerable achievement for the Armenian U20 team. Nazaryan also thanked the government and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports for their support, emphasizing the extensive work done during this period. “Such an event cannot be organized without state assistance. We cannot even pretend that even one-third of such a championship could be held without governmental backing and care. Additionally, we will have a record number of participants in the history of team sports in Armenia. This will allow us to occupy a worthy place on the basketball map and show that we can organize such large events. Many were surprised that Armenia expressed a desire to host a tournament of this scale,” said Arthur Nazaryan.

He also informed that the president of FIBA Europe and the secretary general of the European federation will visit Armenia to follow the championship. The Armenian U20 national team will compete in the European Championship in Yerevan under the leadership of Pit Dominguez. The championship matches will take place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex and the Mika Sports Complex operated by the Sports Management Center.