YEREVAN, August 10 (Noyan Tapan). "You should know that behind of you there is the country, the people expecting successes of you." With such words RA President Robert Kocharian turned to Armenian sportsmen and coaches leaving for Athens to participate in the Olympic Games. The President noticed that the great hopes are pined on them. According to Ishkhan Zakarian, Chairman of the Armenian Olympic Committee, 18 sportsmen in 9 sports will represent Armenia in the Olympic Games. Part of them is already in Athens. It is expected that the Armenian sportsmen will occupy honorary places especially in the competitions on weight-lifting, wrestling, boxing. It was noticed that Olympic champion Albert Azarian will be given the honor of carrying the Armenian banner during the solemn ceremony of the opening of the Games to be held on August 13. It was also mentioned that 4 disabled sportsmen will participate in the Para-Olympic Games starting in Athens on September 19. They will participate in the competitions on swimming, athletics, weight-lifting and archery. RA President Robert Kocharian will be also within the delegation leaving for Athens with the purpose of rendering moral support to Armenian sportsmen.

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