Armenia's national men's chess team has returned home to a hero's welcome after winning the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul during the weekend.
RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports that the team was greeted at Yerevan airport on September 10 by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, who heads the Armenian Chess Federation.
At his presidential palace, Sarkisian also gave honor awards to gold medal winners Levon Aronian, Sergei Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian, and Tigran Petrosian, saying that they have shown that Armenians can be strong not only individually but also as a team.
Russia's team won silver and Ukraine won bronze.
The victory is the third World Olympiad title for Armenia -- a country where chess is an obligatory school subject for every child aged six or older.
Armenia also won gold in 2006 and 2008.
The Olympiad tournament takes place every two years, bringing together chess teams from all over the world.
It is organized by the World Chess Federation.
RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports that the team was greeted at Yerevan airport on September 10 by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, who heads the Armenian Chess Federation.
At his presidential palace, Sarkisian also gave honor awards to gold medal winners Levon Aronian, Sergei Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian, and Tigran Petrosian, saying that they have shown that Armenians can be strong not only individually but also as a team.
Russia's team won silver and Ukraine won bronze.
The victory is the third World Olympiad title for Armenia -- a country where chess is an obligatory school subject for every child aged six or older.
Armenia also won gold in 2006 and 2008.
The Olympiad tournament takes place every two years, bringing together chess teams from all over the world.
It is organized by the World Chess Federation.
