Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the awarding ceremony of the winners of the "Prime Minister's Cup of the Republic of Armenia" amateur road cycling tournament on the Sevan Peninsula.

The tournament started on September 19 in Shorzha, Gegharkunik Province, and ended on the Sevan Peninsula. The cycling was conducted in one stage, 40 km long, in two age groups. The first age group was comprised of 18-35 years old women, 18-40 years old men, the second age group was comprised of 36 and older women, 41 and older men.

Nearly 330 citizens participated in the tournament.

The winners were awarded by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan.

Prime Minister Pashinyan greeted the participants of the tournament and thanked them for responding to this initiative. "I want to congratulate all the winners, awardees and participants. I agree that what is happening is very important, of course, first of all from the viewpoint of sports, from the viewpoint of promoting a healthy lifestyle, from the viewpoint of people meeting one another, communicating, testing and showing their abilities.

But I give more importance to today's event and tinitiativ, because these days there is a lot of discussion about whether such events are appropriate to the situation, to the difficult events we have experienced over the past year, how appropriate it is to hold such events from the point of view of the memory of the martyrs.

I want to state that I consider such events are important also from that point of view, because how should we turn defeats into victories? First of all by living and developing, by repairing our optimism for the future, by regaining confidence in our own strength step by step, by meeting each other and believing in each other. This is a tribute to all our martyrs, because we tell them that today we live thanks to them. The greatest expression of our respect for their memory should be living, developing Republic of Armenia, which has ensured peace and created an era of peaceful development. This is the message of the initiative and event. In this context, I am very grateful to the participants of the tournament’’, PM Pashinyan said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, the prize fund and other such nuances are important, but not the most important. According to the Prime Minister, the results of the first tournament should be summarized to see what amendments can be made to the rules.

"This tournament should take place every year. Of course, in the first year we organized it in a very short period of time, and it was essential that we were able to do it, especially on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Independence. There were different opinions about the distance, the rules, and I think that next year, including based on the consultation with the participants, we can discuss the issue of increasing the distance. Of course, our long-term goal is to organize a cycling tournament around Lake Sevan. If it turns out that it is not possible to do it on an amateur level, we will think about organizing a professional tournament around Lake Sevan. Of course, it is not ruled out that we will organize both in different periods", Nikol Pashinyan said, reminding that the Prime Minister’s Cup will include 4 competitions: cycling, running, table tennis and swimming.

According to the Prime Minister, there was an idea to hold the swimming tournament again with a mass start in Lake Sevan, but there are many security and other issues that will be discussed and a decision will be made on where and how it will be organized.

The Prime Minister noted that the oldest participant in today's tournamnet is 72 years old. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the oldest of the participants should definitely be awarded, although such an award was not envisaged initially.

"Yes, based on the results of the first tournament, we can say that the idea is coming to life. Of course, it will be constantly improved, I hope we will organize this tournament every year in a good mood, with a larger circle of participants, " the Prime Minister said.

Participants who won first place in the tournament received 1 million AMD each, second place - 600 thousand AMD each, third place - 400 thousand AMD each, fourth place - 150 thousand AMD each, fifth place - 100 thousand AMD each, 6-10 places - 75 thousand drams, 11-20 places - 50 thousand drams.

The winners of the 1st-3rd places in the two age groups were also awarded with certificates, cups and medals of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.