A delegation of the Russian Olympic Committee paid a two-day official visit to Armenia. Stanislav Pozdnyakov and Gagik Tsarukyan, heads of the NOCs of the two countries, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
On the Russian side, the negotiations were also attended by Rodion Plitukhin, the Deputy Director General — Chief of Staff, Yuri Yuryev, the Deputy Secretary General — Head of International Relations of the ROC, and Alexei Slautin, the Deputy Head of International Relations of the ROC.
The Russian Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Armenia have reached agreements to develop cooperation based on mutual respect and equality principles. The parties will promote direct contact between the national sports federations and cooperate in the training of athletes, coaches, and other specialists in sport.
The Memorandum implies various forms of cooperation: participation of teams and athletes in bilateral and multilateral competitions and training camps to be held in the territory of the countries; exchange of coaches, experts, students to exchange information and experience; exchange invitations to participate in congresses, conferences, seminars, and courses organized for officials; joint sports events and projects.
— By signing the Memorandum, we agree on the joint holding of sports, educational, and training events in the interests of the athletes of our countries, said ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov. — Both Russia and Armenia have significant and well-prepared sports bases. Considering that we are geographical neighbors, of course, we must help each other and use all of our opportunities.
The Russian delegation also visited the Tsakhkadzor Olympic training base, located 55 km from Yerevan, 2000 meters above sea level. This complex got a modern infrastructure after a major reconstruction carried out in 2007. Indoor Olympic swimming pool, a game room, wrestling and weightlifting halls, and a ski trail allow holding training camps in the mountains for summer and winter sports representatives.
— Of course, we will use Tsakhkadzor for training our athletes, Stanislav Pozdnyakov said. — In turn, we offer the Armenian athletes to visit Russian sports bases to prepare for the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Beijing. Given the Far East’s proximity to the competition venue in Japan and China, I think this offer will be interesting and will give the athletes from the Republic of Armenia an opportunity to acclimatize to the respective time zones.
