Monday, 18 July 2011
5th Pan-Armenian Olympiad on Armenian Language, Literature and Armenian Studies Kicks Off
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the official opening ceremony of the 5th pan-Armenian Olympiad on Armenian language, literature and Armenian studies at Arno Babajanyan concert hall as dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia since 2005.
Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister stated in part: “We made a point of holding pan-Armenian events like this in Armenia since they are important from several standpoints.
First of all, they symbolize our unity.
We thereby demonstrate that wherever we are, our language, literature, history and culture remain key values to us.
We prove that those values are handed down to our children by teaching them to be Armenians with the awareness of national identity, ethnic background and history.
Secondly, a major problem in the modern world is the achievement of self-knowledge and the preservation of originality.
What do we mean by saying Armenian identity: of course, our history and our language, our culture and our religion.
In this respect, we highlight the basic objective of the Olympiad that is to stimulate the knowledge of the Armenian language, literature, history and culture.
We should do everything so that Armenian children living abroad discover Armenia through stronger contacts maintained with the homeland.
Also, we must give Armenia-based children deep knowledge of the Diaspora. This synergy will enrich our vision of the world allowing us to build on national unity.
I am glad that the Olympiad’s geography is expanding from year to year fostered by an ever-growing interest in it. In educational terms, the Olympiad promotes the application of uniform educational criteria.
It is symbolical that the Olympiad is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Free and independent Armenia has become a reality, an unbreakable truth for your generation.
While you will be competing for the next couple of day, I am sure that there will be no losers in this competition. Every one is supposed to be a winner since you will take away unforgettable and bright memories in addition to the awards.
Congratulating you once again, I wish you every success and all the best.”
130 participants from 12 different countries are participating in the 2011 edition of the Olympiad. The participants are pupils of grammar schools and educational centers, as well as teenagers attending other schools or having contacts with Diaspora communities.
The winners will get 3 diplomas and prizes in the first category, 6 – in the second category and 9 – in the third category. Special awards and incentive are also envisaged.
