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The September 3-24 event is organized by the Armenian National Sports Federation for the Physically Challenged (ASFPC) and sponsored by the European Union and Armenian Camp NGO; 127,000 Euros has been allotted to the federation to cover the operational expenses until 2011.

The president of the federation Samvel Rostomyan says the RA Ministry of Sports and Youth cannot sponsor the project until five years later since it is already financing different other centers for the disabled.

“There are 166 sports schools financed from the State Budget and none of them has a single disabled student. The state says a lack of appropriate facilities is the reason for no financing, but we are proving with this tournament that everything can be created if there is a will,” says Rostomyan.

Swimmer Margarita Hovakimyan, who won two silver medals earlier this year in the world swimming tournament in Russia, will participate in the tournament. Armenia’s goalball team players are considered to be strong competitors. Among them is Sipan Asatryan, 21, philology student at Yerevan State University who this year was recognized the best student.

“Over the past one and a half years this sports has given me self-confidence. I started taking walks in our neighborhood alone with a cane for the blind,” says Asatryan.

A unique opportunity has been created for the physically challenged athletes to take part in the sailing competition with two sailboats that are copies of Medieval Armenian fishing boats.

“Not only 16 sportsmen will enjoy the games but the audience will have a chance to learn something from their history,” says Karen Balayan, head of Ayas Nautical Research Club, who will be assisting the athletes together with his club members during this part of the tournament.