Ambassadors in Sport

"In recent years Armenian sports officials have 'eaten away' the store of strength that remained from the Soviet years. Today, big sport is in the position of Cinderella in Armenia," [David Petrosian] says. "Only one Armenian boxer, 33-year-old Alexan Nalbandian (48 kg), participated in the Athens Games and reached the quarterfinals. His training began in the sports system of Soviet Armenia. And where are the other boxers?" Vic, "the Raging Bull", Darchinian hails from Vanadzor, a town in northwestern Armenia. He was a member of Team Armenia at the Olympics in Sydney, but was defeated in his first fight. Now an Australian citizen, Darchinian calls himself an "Armenian Aussie" and frequently comes to visit Armenia. He did so after he won his first world title in professional boxing. "The fans there (in Armenia) are waiting for me to celebrate," he explained. The five-time IBF flyweight world champion and four-time IBO flyweight world champion is the first Armenian boxer who has won a champion's title in professional boxing. He lives, trains and represents Australia. But, before each of his fights, the Armenian anthem is played and an Armenian flag is raised. During his recent visit to Armenia (in late June) to open a boxing club in his native town, he said he was losing money (through missed sponsorship) by continuing to appear in the ring under the Armenian flag: "But it doesn't matter to me, my homeland is all that matters," he said.