ITALY HAMPERS ARMENIAN SPORTSMAN
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[01:22 pm] 26 July, 2007
The Italian Embassy in Yerevan did not allow the Armenian national
girls’ basketball team (14-16 years) to leave for Italian Chieti city
to participate in European Championship. Earlier the Irish Embassy
in Moscow did not allow Armenian national hokey team to participate
in World Championship in Ireland.
The Armenian girls’ basketball team was to participate in European
Championship for the first time. The coach of the team Edik Vardanyan
said that the team was involved in Group D where they were to compete
with the national teams of Germany, Israel and Romania.
On 27 July Armenia was to play with Germany. The Embassy did not
motivate the reason of denial first, but when the FIBA interfered,
the employees of the Embassy explained that the passports of the
Armenian girls caused suspicion. The Armenian national team received
an invitation from the Italian Basketball Federation and Committee
of tournament. Armenia was obliged to take part in the tournament
which would promote the development of basketball in Armenia.
Vahagn Harutunyan, director of Armenian Basketball Federation,
mentioned that it was a shock for the team. "We wonder how they made
such a decision in 21-st century. This is a professional sport and
Armenia was obliged to take in part in the tournament. We were not
leaving as tourists; we were to participate in European Championship,
like other countries". Harutunyan mentioned that the girls were also
upset with it: "They were waiting for the tour impatiently, since they
were to participate in a European Championship for the first time".