AGBU Southern California
Central Sports Committee
2495 E. Mountain St.
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 794-7942 Office
(626) 794-2662 Fax
Contact: Carl Bardakian
November 24, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
President Arkady Ghoukasian and Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian of
Artsakh Participate in Athletic Events at Pasadena AGBU Center
On Tuesday, November 23, 2004 the AGBU Southern California District
Committee (SCDC) and AGBU-AYA Southern California Central Sports
Committee (CSC) hosted His Excellency Arkady Ghoukasian, President of
Artsakh and His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, Primate of
Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in an afternoon of athletic events at the
AGBU Center of Pasadena. The basketball and indoor soccer games were
between the Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles and AGBU.
President Ghoukasian and Archbishop Mardirossian are currently visiting
the United States to encourage Armenians to contribute to the Armenia
Fund’s Thanksgiving Day Telethon. Telethon 2004’s goal is to raise
funds to complete the remaining 56 miles of the North-South “Backbone”
Highway in Artsakh. Upon completion, the $25 million, 105-mile highway
will link 150 towns and villages and provide crucial economic, trade and
development opportunities. Telethon 2004 will also provide continued
assistance in the areas of health care, education and infrastructure
development in the Republic of Armenia.
Other guests participating in the friendly basketball and indoor soccer
games along with President Ghoukasian and Srpazan Hayr included the
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Gagik
Kirakosian, Representative of Artsakh in the United States Vardan
Barseghian, Armenia Fund Inc. Public Relations Executive Sarkis
Kotanjian, renowned actor and comedian Hrant Tokhatian, and Executive
Committee Member of the Pan Armenian Games World Committee and lifelong
AGBU-AYA supporter Albert Boyajian.
President Ghoukasian and Archbishop Mardirossian, both active and avid
sportsmen, teamed up on the basketball court and competed with and
against members of the AGBU Valley Men’s Basketball team, winners of the
First and Second Pan Armenian Games in Yerevan in 1999 and 2001. Both
President Ghoukasian and Archbishop Mardirossian were warmly greeted by
younger AGBU-AYA boys basketball players who cheered their every move
during the games. President Ghoukasian completed five 3-point shots,
which delighted the crowd. Jano Baghdanian, AGBU Central Sports
Committee Chairman and executive director of the AGBU Valley 2003 Pan
Armenian Games championship soccer team in Yerevan, organized the indoor
soccer competition, in which both President Ghoukasian and Barkev
Srpazan scored goals.
A reception followed the basketball and indoor soccer games at Boyajian
Hall during which the AGBU honored President Ghoukasian and Archbishop
Mardirossian. Vahe Imasdounian, Chairman of the AGBU Southern
California District Committee, extended his greetings to President
Ghoukasian and Barkev Srpazan, welcomed them to the Pasadena AGBU
Center, and wished them much success with Telethon 2004. He
specifically paid tribute to President Ghoukasian and his leadership
over the past seven years, and reminded those in attendance that since
its inception in 1906 the AGBU has consistently and magnanimously
supported the development of Armenia and Artsakh through numerous
humanitarian and development projects. A book gift was presented to
President Ghoukasian entitled /Armenian-American / Canadian-American
Who’s Who of Outstanding Athletes, Coaches and Sports Personalities
(1906-1989),/ authored by Richard N. Demirjian. President Ghoukasian
thanked AGBU for their support of Artsakh and for hosting a memorable
afternoon of sports competition and friendship. He encouraged the AGBU
Valley men’s basketball team members to compete in the First
Pan-Armenian Basketball Championship – the Armenag Alajajian Basketball
Cup – and to visit Artsakh in August 2005.
On behalf of AGBU, Mihran Toumajan, AGBU Central Sports Committee and
Pasadena Chapter member, presented Archbishop Mardirossian with four
copies of /Gomidas Badarak and Explanation/ for use in Artsakh. Toumajan
praised His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian and stated that he
continues to inspire Armenians in Artsakh, Armenia, and throughout the
Diaspora with his unwavering faith in, and dedication to, the Armenian
Church and Nation. Archbishop Mardirossian has served on the front
lines in defense of Artsakh and continues to lead his flock. Toumajan
appropriately referred to Barkev Srpazan as a modern-day Ghevont Yeretz,
the latter having defended the Faith and the Nation at the Battle of
Avarayr in 451 A.D. The reception concluded with a prayer by Archbishop
Mardirossian.
For further information on the AGBU Sports Program, please contact Alan
Woskanian, Southern California AGBU Athletic Director, at the Pasadena
AGBU Center at 626-794-7942.