Artsakh sambists will soon be able to compete in the European and world championships with a separate status – Mikayel Hayrapetyan

Sambists from Artsakh can compete in European and world championships with a separate status, Mikayel Hayrapetyan, the founder of Global USA Inc., told Alpha News.

“We made sure our Artsakh sambists could compete in European and world championships with a separate status. It is a refugee status. In other words, the International Olympic Committee recognizes Artsakh Armenian athletes as refugees—those people who were forcibly displaced from their country, their homeland,” Hayrapetyan said.

When asked whether the representatives of the neighboring state reacted to this decision, Hayrapetyan said:

“Yes, the representatives of the neighboring state made noise, but the International Sambo Federation and the International Olympic Committee confirmed our right, and we use that right. One of the World Cups will soon be held in Bishkek, where our athletes from Artsakh will participate as well. I am sure that they will bring gold, and there will be a big celebration, because we need victories a lot. We have won, and we will always win. A little bit of hard work, strength, and energy, and everything will fall into place.”

Speaking about his activities, Hayrapetyan emphasized:

“In the United States, I am known as the founder of Global USA Inc. as well as the co-founder of the American Global Group, a company that buys and sells vehicles. The other co-founder is Vardan Onanyan, who is devoted to his homeland, participated in the war, and became disabled. I am also the co-founder of the Armenian Business Corner initiative, which supports the development of Armenian-American businesses. We bring Armenian businesses to us, and after 6 months of presentation and preparation for the market, they are presented to large commercial networks and sign contracts.”