VAN NUYS, Calif.—The weekend of May 21-22, 2016 saw the enthusiastic start of basketball tournaments as Homenetmen’s 41st Annual Navasartian Games kicked off at Birmingham High School. Athletic gyms were filled with athletes, coaches, chapter executives, parents and grandparents alike, who gathered with great joy and pride as spectators. Homenetmen Regional Executive and Regional Athletic Council members were also present to closely monitor the games.
Annually, the Navasartian Games serve as Homenetmen’s largest athletic event, which draws vast interest throughout the community. The Navasartian Games see the participation of not only the region’s 17 chapters and their athletic teams, but also the Armenian community as a whole, which anticipates this event year after year.
The 2016 Navasartian Games are proud to boast Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian and his wife, Araxie, as Honorary Presidents.
These extraordinary games comprise numerous sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, ping-pong, track and field, swimming, chess, and softball. 209 teams ranging from U8 to AA divisions, involving the following Homenetmen chapters, will participate in basketball tournaments during the 2016 Navasartian Games:
• Los Angeles Chapter: 11 teams
• San Francisco Chapter: 11 teams
• Fresno Sassoon Chapter: 8 teams
• Montebello Chapter: 4 teams
• Pasadena Azadamard Chapter: 26 teams
• Glendale Ararat Chapter: 64 teams
• Orange County Sartarabad Chapter: 8 teams
• San Fernando Valley Massis Chapter: 41 teams
• Inland Empire Araz Chapter: 2 teams
• Crescenta Valley Shant Chapter: 24 teams
• Burbank Sipan Chapter: 7 teams
• Las Vegas Artsakh Chapter: 2 teams
While the Homenetmen Western Region consists of 17 chapters, five of those, including the Walnut Creek Gars Chapter, San Diego Sevan Chapter, San Jose Ani Chapter, North Hollywood Javakhk Chapter and Phoenix Chapter, will participate only through individual sports.
This year, one basketball team from the Homenetmen Sydney Chapter in Australia will also bring its participation to the Navasartian Games.
Aram Thomas, a member of the Homenetmen Regional Executive and liaison to the athletics division, extended wishes of success to all the participating teams. “Following a decision made by the Regional Athletic Council, this year, individual sports will be held during the final weekend from June 30th through July 3rd in an effort to allow distant chapters to participate in the final games and enjoy the festival with greater numbers,” he explained.
Thomas informed that great efforts are being exerted to advance and strengthen not only individual sports but team sports as well, including volleyball and soccer. He proudly added that a Homenetmen athletic entity has been established in Sacramento, California and a young division will participate in the soccer tournament during the 2016 Navasartian Games.
Navasartian Games will continue every weekend at Birmingham High School, as well as the Massis, Ararat, and Sipan Chapter athletic gyms. For additional information, visit www.navasartiangames.com or contact the Homenetmen Regional Headquarters at (323) 344-4300.
