12th Pan-Homenetmen Games Unite Armenian Youth from Around the World in Yerevan

From July 24 to August 2, 2025, Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, is hosting the 12th Pan-Homenetmen Games, a major event that brings together over 750 athletes from across the globe. The games have drawn participants from 18 different Homenetmen chapters as well as members of the Armenian Cultural “Ararat” Organization.
Athletes and scouts have traveled from countries such as the United States (both Western and Eastern regions), Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, Georgia, Jerusalem, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon. They are joined by local athletes from Armenia and Artsakh. The shared goal is simple yet powerful: to come together in the homeland, connect with fellow Armenians, and celebrate a strong sense of identity through sport and community.
The Games feature a wide range of sporting competitions, including basketball, football, futsal, volleyball, table tennis, swimming, chess, tennis, and athletics. At the same time, an inclusive program called “Hrashq” is being held for children with special needs, ages 12 to 22, from both Armenia and the Diaspora. These participants will compete in events like athletics, soccer shooting, basketball shooting, bocce, and tug of war.
But this gathering is about more than just sports. Participants are also taking time to honor Armenian history and remember those who came before them. They are visiting important landmarks, such as the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial and Yerablur Military Pantheon. These visits serve as a powerful reminder of Armenia’s past struggles and the importance of national unity.
The opening ceremony took place on July 26 in Republic Square. In a symbolic and emotional moment, a ceremonial torch was lit using three flames brought from Yerablur, Tsitsernakaberd, and Etchmiadzin Cathedral. The flame from Yerablur was carried by two mothers of scouts who died in the 2020 Artsakh War. Young scouts carried the flame from Tsitsernakaberd, and a priest delivered the flame from Etchmiadzin. Together, they lit the torch that now represents the spirit of these games — memory, unity, and hope.
In an interview with The Armenian Report, Mher Tavitian, a member of the Homenetmen Central Committee, shared the history and purpose of the games. “These games started back in 1981. The purpose of the games — and it still is — is to bring the Armenian youth together. Every four years we do these games. The last four times we did it in Armenia. This is the fifth time, and we are going to continue doing it in Armenia. The purpose is to bring our members from around the world together, bring them to the motherland so they can get to know the homeland … and keep the Armenian culture going.”
Another torchbearer, scout Narbeh Pezeshkian from the United States, said it was an “incredible honor” to carry the flame again. “It’s incredible in our ancestor land, in our motherland … these memories will last forever.” He emphasized that while winning in sports is a goal, making lifelong friendships is what truly matters.
The atmosphere at Republic Square during the parade of athletes was filled with excitement. The Canadian soccer team proudly marched through the square, waving their flags and chanting for their team. In the crowd was a young female scout from Argentina, experiencing Armenia for the first time. “It's my first time here so I'm very excited and I am so emotional … it’s like a reunion,” she told The Armenian Report.
Months of preparation went into organizing this event, and the result is a celebration of Armenian unity, youth, and heritage. While the games continue over the coming days, the impact of this gathering will last much longer. It is a living example of how a global Armenian community can come together, in one place, to remember, to compete, and most importantly — to connect.

Видео 12th Pan-Homenetmen Games Unite Armenian Youth from Around the World in Yerevan канала The Armenian Report