On November 27, in the Alex Manoogian Cultural Center of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in Paris, Mr. Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), presented his new illustrated book entitled “Armenian Sport and Gymnastics in the Ottoman Empire” and other books published by the AGMI.
Mr. Demoyan thanked AGBU Europe for providing him with an opportunity to present his book in Paris. This was Mr. Demoyan’s second meeting with the Armenian community of France in Alex Manoogian Center. The first one took place in 2008, during which he delivered a lecture entitled “Armenian-Turkish relations: new developments, new challenges”.
Speaking about the book Mr. Demoyan said that the gymnastic movement and sport development of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire is an underexposed but very interesting and important area, which once again proves the leading role of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Rare sources and photos are used in the book. Mr. Demoyan expressed his special gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Patrice and Seda Djololian,
who provided to the AGMI the whole collection of Mr. Grikor Djololian.
In attendance were AGBU Europe and France Chairman Alexis Govciyan, members of the AGBU Europe Board, Councilor of the RA Embassy to France Hamlet Gasparian, Chairman of the Parish Council of the St. Baptiste
Armenian Apostolic Church of Paris Patrice Djololian, Director of the Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts Hrach Tamrazian and representatives of the Armenian communit