ARLINGTON, Mass.—From the highest positions in government to various professions, including arts and architecture, Armenians made major contributions to the growth and development of the Ottoman Empire. Among the least known and overlooked aspects are sports and physical education prior to the Armenian Genocide. These will be the topic of discussion on Tues., Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in a lecture entitled, “Armenian sports and physical education in the Ottoman Empire: Between Patriotism and Competitive Nationalism,” by Dr. Hayk Demoyan, the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) in Armenia.
The presentation is based on the Demoyan’s extensive research and most recent publication on the subject, entitled Haykakan sporte Osmanean Kaysrut’yunum (Armenian Sport in Ottoman Empire), a revised second edition of the 2009 publication that includes newly discovered materials. This important publication, rich in historical documents, contains about 600 original photographs, including images of medals and decorations bestowed upon Armenian athletes.
Born in Gyumri (formerly Leninakan), Armenia, Demoyan is a graduate of Yerevan State University. He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences and served on the faculty of the history department of Yerevan State University from 2000-05. Demoyan is the author of several books on the Armenian Genocide, Turkish foreign policy, and Turkey’s involvement in the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict of 1991-94. He has been the director of the AGMI since 2006. In conjunction with this position, over the past two years he has also served as the secretary of the state commission tasked with planning and implementing the worldwide commemorations of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide. He regularly gives lectures on the AGMI’s activities and related topics in Armenia and other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Slovenia, Russia, Iran, and Cyprus.
In addition to his work on sports, Demoyan recently published a major bilingual (Armenian and English) work entitled, Hayots’ Ts’eghaspanut’ean lusabanume hamashkharhayin mamuli arajin ejerin (The Armenian Genocide: Frontpage Coverage in the World Press). This 266-page book contains about 500 images, photographs, and texts, in color and black and white, of selections from English, French, Italian American, German, Austrian, Russian, Polish, and Norwegian publications from 1856 to 1926. The launching of this major project in October 2014 at AGMI included an exhibit of the posters, and received rave reviews.
Demoyan’s presentation will take place in John Mirak Hall of the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF), 441 Mystic St. in Arlington. In addition to the presentation of the above topic, Demoyan will share his thoughts on the Armenian Genocide Centenary events worldwide. Autographed copies of both titles mentioned above will also be available for sale. For more information, contact the ACF during office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or check your local Armenian news outlets.
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