Pashinyan: The Strategy Is to Achieve 25 Olympic Gold Medals

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the final stage of the "Prime Minister's Cup" swimming competition for schoolchildren held at the main sports complex in Tsaghkadzor. A total of 128 students competed, divided into two age groups. Students born between 2014 and 2017, aged 8 to 12, were in grades 3-6, while those born between 2008 and 2013, aged 13 to 17, were in grades 7-12.

In the finals, the teams from the regions of Armenia and Yerevan competed, with each team consisting of four boys and four girls. The competitions for the first and second age groups included 8×50 meter and 8×100 meter relay and freestyle events in mixed teams.

At the end of the competitions, an awards ceremony was held. The prizes were presented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, and Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan.

The best three teams in the 3-6 grade group were from Yerevan, Shirak, and Kotayk, while the top three in the 7-12 grade group were from Yerevan, Shirak, and Lori.

Teams that secured prize places in each age group received certificates from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, trophies, souvenirs, medals, and cash prizes. The first place was awarded 4 million drams, the second place 2.5 million drams, and the third place 1.5 million drams. The cash prizes were distributed equally among the team members’ schools to improve the sports facilities or acquire equipment of the schools.

Award-winning students also received cash prizes: 150,000 drams for the first place (8 participants), 100,000 drams for the second place (8 participants), and 75,000 drams for the third place (8 participants). The team leaders, coaches, and physical education teachers were also awarded 150,000, 100,000, and 75,000 drams, respectively.

The competition was organized by a commission established by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in collaboration with the "Armenian Swimming Federation" NGO.

After the awards ceremony, Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech congratulating the winners and wishing them success. He emphasized the importance of ensuring necessary infrastructure in the regions and noted that a political decision has been made to have at least a 25-meter swimming pool in consolidated communities.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the “Prime Minister’s Cup” could serve as an additional incentive for students engaged in swimming on the path to achieving high results for Armenia in international competitions. Referring to the strategy for 2050, Pashinyan reminded that the goal is to have 25 Olympic gold medals and expressed hope that at least one of them would be in swimming.

At the end, the Prime Minister toured the area of the main sports complex in Tsaghkadzor to familiarize himself with the infrastructure and upcoming projects.