Nikita Simonian awarded with Order of Honour
Serzh Sargsyan today received the legendary football player, multiple winner of the USSR tournaments and Olympic Games, FIFA, UEFA and International Olympic Committee Gold Medal recipient, Designated Coach Nikita Simonian. Under Simonian's leadership Ararat football team won the Cup and the USSR Championship in 1973.
The President of Armenia noted that the entire Armenian nation has been proud of Simonian for decades, President's Press Office reported.
"I am happy to see that you're well and sound and continue to work for the benefit of football. We take pride in our compatriots in the Diaspora and first of all in those who have reached prominence in their area. You make our nation even more recognizable," the President said.
By a Presidential decree, Nikita Simonian has been awarded the Order of Honor for his activities aimed at the strengthening of the Armenian-Russian friendship, as well as for his considerable contribution to the development of the Armenian football, and for the years-long service in the area of football. At today's meeting, President Sargsyan handed the award to the great athlete, wishing him good health and great success.
"I am greatly honored to receive this high award. As you know, I am a hundred percent Armenian. My parents, Armenians from Ardvin, escaped the Genocide. My father was a great patriot. I was greatly honored to lead "Ararat" team in 1973. And it was a pure joy for me as the coach of the team, when the boys won the Cup and became champions. It's hard to describe how people reacted at that time. It was really a wonderful team. I am grateful to that generation, and of course, to our entire nation for that, and I bow to you," Nikita Simonian said.
President Sargsyan noted that he too recalls the rapture of our people in those days. "My memory holds three events that brought such rapture: First, when Tigran Petrossian became the world champion. Second, when Ararat won the Cup and became the USSR champion in 1973, and the third, when Shushi was liberated on May 9. So, one of these events is co-authored by you. That victory was a great event indeed and achievement not only in terms of sport," President Sargsyan said.
