On 7-8 July 2026, a team of Council of Europe experts carried out a support and follow-up visit to Armenia to further the implementation of the European Sports Charter (ESC) in national policies and practices. The ESC sets out the principles enabling public authorities to support sport for all and provide opportunities for participation under well-defined conditions.
The team met with key stakeholders involved in promoting values-based sport and developing sport policy in Armenia, including Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia; Arthur Martirosyan Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia; Armen Pambukhchyan, Deputy Mayor of Yerevan; as well as other representatives of national and local public authorities, the sport movement, educational institutions and civil society organisations active in the field of sport. Discussions also included representatives of sports federations, athletes, volunteers, event organisers, media and other relevant stakeholders.
These meetings were complemented by visits to a range of sports facilities and institutions in Yerevan, including the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport, the Football Federation of Armenia and its Technical Centre, the Armenian Weightlifting Federation, the Yerevan State Sports College of Olympic Reserve, the Sport Management Centre, Hill Sports Complex, and other sports and community-based organisations. The programme also provided an opportunity to observe sport activities and major events hosted in the city, including the FIBA U16 European Championship, as well as initiatives promoting participation, volunteering, education through sport and the development of young athletes.
This visit forms part of the annual mandate of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) to support the implementation of the ESC across its member states.
The EPAS delegation was composed of Alexandre Husting (Luxembourg), Head of Mission, and Filipa Cavalleri (Portugal), members of the EPAS Governing Board; Patrik Perosa (International Dance Organization), member of the EPAS Consultative Committee; and Jonas Burgheim (Cares Project), rapporteur for the visit, as well as two representatives of the Secretariat.
The findings, recommendations and examples of best practices identified during the visit will be compiled in a report and transmitted to the Armenian authorities, who will be invited to consider its tailored recommendations. The adopted report will be made publicly available on the Sport Division website in due course.
