Member Federation leaders from the Association of the Balkan Athletics Federations (ABAF) and special guests recently met with the Armenian President, Prime Minister and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs to discuss Armenia’s increased activity in promoting and developing the sport of athletics.
ABAF President Dobromir Karamarinov along with European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia and IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka were among the guests received by President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Yuri Vardanyan in the capital city of Yerevan in late October during the 3rd Balkan Athletics Gala.
October was a significant month for Balkan athletics as Slovenia, Cyprus and Georgia were unanimously affiliated to the association at the ABAF Congress held in Tallinn on 10 October.
As a result, 15 countries will now be competing at the Balkan Senior Championships held in Cluj Napoca, Romania, on 27-28 July 2014.
Ivana Spanovic and Emir Bekric of Serbia were recognised as the 2013 Balkan Athletes of the Year at the gala on 29 October.
Romania’s Florentina Marincu, Emel Dereli of Türkiye, Matija Greguric of Croatia and Mesud Pezer of Bosnia and Herzegovina were recognised as Balkan Rising Stars for 2013.
On behalf of ABAF, a special trophy was presented to European junior champion Levon Aghasyan of Armenia encouraging further progress.
Special certificates were presented to the leaders of the ABAF Federations as well as to coaches in recognition for their contribution to the development of athletics.