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Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ September 9, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
[email protected]
AYF Eastern Region Holds Successful Olympic Games in Washington, D.C.
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 2 to 5, approximately 2,500 Armenians
from the East and West Coasts and Canada gathered for the annual
AYF-YOARF Olympic Games, hosted by the Washington Ani chapter.
100 athletes from chapters in Boston, Providence, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Racine, Detroit,
Granite City, Fairfield and Toronto competed in swimming, track and
field, golf, tennis, and softball games over Labor Day weekend.
On September 1, before the official start of the games, around 150
Armenian-Americans, led by the AYF Eastern Region, held a protest in
front of the Azeri Embassy in Washington, D.C., calling to attention
the ongoing threats by Azerbaijani government officials to use
military force to deny self-determination to the people of Karabagh.
That evening, guests of the Olympic games went on a "Monuments by
Moonlight Tour" around the capital city, which was followed by a party
at Blue Gin lounge bar.
The Andrews Air Force Base East Golf Course was the gathering place
the following morning; where AYF members and alumni competed in the
golf tournament. Matches of tennis also took place that day at
Catholic University.
Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity for a tour of Washington,
D.C. organized by the Olympics Steering Committee. Later that night,
AYF athletes competed in swimming races in front of a large crowd
cheering them on in the stands at Catholic University.
By night, AYF alumni and supporters gathered for the annual alumni
dance at the official hotel of the games, Grant Hyatt
Washington. Meanwhile, AYF members and guests danced the night away to
the music of the Michael Gostanian Enesemble and DJ Terk, followed by
performances by Nune Yesayan.
On September 3, AYF members woke up early to start the all-day
softball tournament, where teams from New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., Granite City/Racine, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit,
Providence and Toronto battled it out, until around 6:00 p.m., when
the Providence chapter beat out the team from New Jersey in an
action-packed final game.
Singer Nersik Ispiryan, along with the Aravod Ensemble and DJ Terk,
provided the entertainment for the evening.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of music we heard this year. Each
musician and band that performed this weekend brought their own unique
sound to us each evening and the end result was the same, a jam-packed
dance floor," said Washington AYF chapter member Nora Keomurjian.
Track and field events rounded out the athletic competitions,
beginning at 9:00 a.m. on September 4, at the Archbishop Carroll High
School in Washington. An enthusiastic crowd cheered runners and field
athletes, as they competed in relay races and individual races, as
well field events including shot put, discus and long jump.
Midway through the day, athletes marched with their teams onto the
field for the opening ceremonies. Guests addressing the gathering
included ARF Eastern Region Central Committee chairman Hayg Oshagan;
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan; AYF Central Executive chairman Antranig
Kzirian; and Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian.
Then, members of last year's hosting chapter, the Chicago Ararat
chapter, carried the torch around the track, eventually passing it on
to two members of the Washington Ani chapter, who lit the torch as the
official start of the AYF Olympic games. Prior to the running of the
torch, AYF athletes recited the Olympic oath, pledging good
sportsmanship and to stay "loyal to the traditions of the AYF Olympics
and applaud the victor and defeated alike."
On Monday, guests attended a farewell picnic near the hotel. "The
games brought our organization together. I felt that everyone
participated in the activities and games during the day, and the
dances at night. Our chapters were especially united this year, during
the protest that we held at the Azeri Embassy before the start of the
games," said Greater Boston AYF chapter member Anny Deirmenjian.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ September 9, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
[email protected]
AYF Eastern Region Holds Successful Olympic Games in Washington, D.C.
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 2 to 5, approximately 2,500 Armenians
from the East and West Coasts and Canada gathered for the annual
AYF-YOARF Olympic Games, hosted by the Washington Ani chapter.
100 athletes from chapters in Boston, Providence, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Racine, Detroit,
Granite City, Fairfield and Toronto competed in swimming, track and
field, golf, tennis, and softball games over Labor Day weekend.
On September 1, before the official start of the games, around 150
Armenian-Americans, led by the AYF Eastern Region, held a protest in
front of the Azeri Embassy in Washington, D.C., calling to attention
the ongoing threats by Azerbaijani government officials to use
military force to deny self-determination to the people of Karabagh.
That evening, guests of the Olympic games went on a "Monuments by
Moonlight Tour" around the capital city, which was followed by a party
at Blue Gin lounge bar.
The Andrews Air Force Base East Golf Course was the gathering place
the following morning; where AYF members and alumni competed in the
golf tournament. Matches of tennis also took place that day at
Catholic University.
Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity for a tour of Washington,
D.C. organized by the Olympics Steering Committee. Later that night,
AYF athletes competed in swimming races in front of a large crowd
cheering them on in the stands at Catholic University.
By night, AYF alumni and supporters gathered for the annual alumni
dance at the official hotel of the games, Grant Hyatt
Washington. Meanwhile, AYF members and guests danced the night away to
the music of the Michael Gostanian Enesemble and DJ Terk, followed by
performances by Nune Yesayan.
On September 3, AYF members woke up early to start the all-day
softball tournament, where teams from New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., Granite City/Racine, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit,
Providence and Toronto battled it out, until around 6:00 p.m., when
the Providence chapter beat out the team from New Jersey in an
action-packed final game.
Singer Nersik Ispiryan, along with the Aravod Ensemble and DJ Terk,
provided the entertainment for the evening.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of music we heard this year. Each
musician and band that performed this weekend brought their own unique
sound to us each evening and the end result was the same, a jam-packed
dance floor," said Washington AYF chapter member Nora Keomurjian.
Track and field events rounded out the athletic competitions,
beginning at 9:00 a.m. on September 4, at the Archbishop Carroll High
School in Washington. An enthusiastic crowd cheered runners and field
athletes, as they competed in relay races and individual races, as
well field events including shot put, discus and long jump.
Midway through the day, athletes marched with their teams onto the
field for the opening ceremonies. Guests addressing the gathering
included ARF Eastern Region Central Committee chairman Hayg Oshagan;
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan; AYF Central Executive chairman Antranig
Kzirian; and Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian.
Then, members of last year's hosting chapter, the Chicago Ararat
chapter, carried the torch around the track, eventually passing it on
to two members of the Washington Ani chapter, who lit the torch as the
official start of the AYF Olympic games. Prior to the running of the
torch, AYF athletes recited the Olympic oath, pledging good
sportsmanship and to stay "loyal to the traditions of the AYF Olympics
and applaud the victor and defeated alike."
On Monday, guests attended a farewell picnic near the hotel. "The
games brought our organization together. I felt that everyone
participated in the activities and games during the day, and the
dances at night. Our chapters were especially united this year, during
the protest that we held at the Azeri Embassy before the start of the
games," said Greater Boston AYF chapter member Anny Deirmenjian.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress