DAVID BALBIRNIE, SECRETARY GENERAL OF EUROPEAN HOCKEY FEDERATION, VISITS ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 22, Mikayel Ispirian, the
Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, received David Balbirnie
(Irland), the Secretary General of the European Hockey Federation. The
Deputy Minister told the Secretary General about the hockey kind of
sport registered in Armenia still in the 1-2nd centuries, the sizes
of the playground and the rules of the game. He also mentioned the
fact that Armenians are quick at acquiring skilfulness in hockey
and added that Armenian teams have won prizes and cups in all-union
championships, and Sos Hayrapetian from Yerevan was included in the
world symbolic team as the best half-back of the world eight times.

David Balbirnie mentioned that he is acquainted with Armenian hockey
and its traditions to some extent and that he is eager to see the
representative teams of Armenia in international tournaments. He
also stated that the European Federation will send equipment and
belongings to Armenia to contribute to the further development of
this kind of sport.