That post by Kalsahakian was nothing but Bashing Kocharian. Judges may have misjudged the sportsmen, but this doesnt mean that Kocharian is the reason for that, or wait... Are Olympics invovled with Politics nowa days?

Kocharian made the Olympics into a political issue when he stood in front of Armenia's olympic athletes and made sure that every film crew was there. Then he made it an issue of state by saying he'd give $40,000 to any athlete that won gold.

And of course, it *is* a political issue when you look at who's behind sports in Armenia from football to athletics. The clans and oligarchs -- the financial muscle of the political system -- are. And besides, it's also about the environment for sports in Armenia and whether the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is doing its job in nurturing talent rather.

In any country it's the same but to go back to your initial question, the President made it enough of a political photo opportunity for such commentaries to be made. And the point of allocating $40,000 to an individual for a medal rather than investing in their and others training for such events is a valid one.

Sports is politics and more significantly, money, in Armenia. Look at Nemetz Rubo and Dodi Gagho, for example, and they control much more than a few photo opps for the Prez.

Besides, can you imagine how Armenians would make this political if Armenia won some medals and Azerbaijan didn't?

BTW: It was interesting to note that in Saakashvili's purge of the corrupt Shevardnadze cronies, one of the first areas to be targetted was football in Georgia. The same situation of corruption is true in Armenia. Look at the huge hotel near Sevan city (owned by the godfather of the football mafia in Armenia) and understand that sports is indeed part of the political-economic situation in Armenia.

RFE/RL's press review of both opposition (Aravot and Haykakan Zhamanak) and pro-government (Hayots Ashkhar) papers was the most cynical (but not necessarily incorrect) take on the matter:

“Haykakan Zhamanak” describes the failure by Armenia’s national team to win any medals at the Olympic Games in Athens as a “disgrace.” The paper blames the flop on the Armenian authorities, saying that they hire wrestlers, boxers and weight lifters to bully their opponents rather than win medals. “The athletes were at the center of Robert Kocharian’s personal attention because they are the ones who are supposed to stuff ballot boxes, beat up political opponents, spread fear across the country, smash journalists’ cameras and protect oligarchs.”

“The truth is that during the last six years virtually all gyms in Armenia have prepared not athletes but skinheads,” “Haykakan Zhamanak” continues. “The truth is that those dedicated to sports have been sacked as the directors of the bulk of Armenian gyms and replaced by criminal elements whose physical force is needed for settling criminal scores.” In a clear reference to Kocharian and other officials that accompanied him in Athens, the paper adds scornfully that Armenian presence in Greece this month must have been only felt in local casinos, restaurants, luxury shops and night clubs.

“Aravot” fiercely attacks Ishkhan Zakarian, chairman of Armenia’s National Olympic Committee. Once a leading member of Soviet Armenia’s Young Communist League, Zakarian now “organizes Robert Kocharian’s leisure,” instead of promoting sports. “He has greatly contributed to the use of sportsmen as blunt weapons in politics and inter-clan warfare,” the paper says. “It is much easier to beat up unarmed people, notably journalists, than to demonstrate their strength and capacity in sport arenas. Becoming a champion in Armenia is less prestigious and financially rewarding than flexing muscles in front of peaceful people.”

“Hayots Ashkhar” also does not mince words to deplore the “complete fiasco” of the Armenian athletes. “Gripped by indifference, they looked like taking part not in Olympic Games, but a neighborhood competition,” the paper says with dismay. “Who will be held accountable for this disgrace and millions of drams in taxpayers’ money wasted in the last four years? We need new people as well as new ideas and new approaches.”

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Gevorgian,

I appreciate your comments but please let's keep to the topic at hand.

thanks
Matt

Matt, I apologize for the comment I posted earlier. I should have not invited the "anonymous" user to discussion. I frankly did not read your "usage agreement" before commenting. However, I would like to leave my E-mail address to all them who disagrees with me regarding "Bashing the president Kocharian. And opposition is backed by Levon ter Petrosian and he is backed by Zion" topic. My E-mail address is blogs@gevorgian.com. I look forward for discussion.

Also, please read some real newspapers such as http://www.yerkir.am, and I am sure you will find good news from Armenia daily.

No problem. All views are welcome here, as long as they don't get personal.

We all care about the future of Armenia.

Matt