Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his daughter Arpi Pashinyan attended the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championship at the Karen Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex in Yerevan.

The President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Constitutional Court Arman Dilanyan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister, Chairman of the interdepartmental commission for the preparation and organization of the European Weightlifting Championship-2023 Arayik Harutyunyan, members of the legislative and executive bodies, President of the International Weightlifting Federation, Mohammed Jalood, and the President of the European Weightlifting Federation, Antonio Conflitti, and other officials attended the event.

The Prime Minister delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, where he particularly said,

"Honorable President of the Republic of Armenia,
Honorable President of the International Weightlifting Federation,
Honorable President of the European Weightlifting Federation,
Dear attendees,
Dear guests,

I welcome the European Weightlifting Championship in the Republic of Armenia and I want to thank the European Federation for granting this opportunity to the Republic of Armenia.

In fact, the Republic of Armenia has been waiting for this championship for about 40 years, because in the 80s, this magnificent sport and concert complex was built with the expectation that it would soon host European and world level tournaments. But, unfortunately, it turned out that it took such a long time for the European championships to be hosted in Armenia. Last year we hosted the European Boxing Championship, this year we are hosting the European Weightlifting Championship.

This is an extremely symbolic moment because this championship is taking place under the umbrella, roof and flag of the sovereign, independent Republic of Armenia. And this is an extremely important event.

I want to believe that today's symbolism is just as profound. The European Weightlifting Championship symbolizes that our country, our state, our people are ready not only to face, not only to hold, not only to overcome, but also to raise the weights placed before us by fate and history.

And thus, I declare the European Weightlifting Championship open."