All Fun and Navasartian Games

VAN NUYS — The more athletic members of Los Angeles’ Armenian community on Sunday wrapped up the 24th annual Navasartian Games, a four-day festival that is part sports games, part cultural celebration.

Held at Birmingham High School, the Navasartian Games--named after an ancient Armenian holiday--attracted a record 35,000 people, according to festival organizers, making it one of the biggest events in the local Armenian community.

“It keeps getting bigger every year,” said Stephan Boyajian, one of the games’ organizers. “And we see the games as a great way to provide a safe environment for kids and a way to get better acquainted with our culture.”

As smoke from kebab grills wafted through the air and Armenian music blared from 3-foot-tall speakers, young athletes from scouting organizations across the West with predominately Armenian membership mingled in the heat as the weekend’s sporting competitions came to a close. More than 3,000 youths competed in basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and field and other events.

Maral Melkonian, who is a member of an Armenian scouting organization in Garden Grove, was disappointed her basketball team was ousted in the semifinals. Not one to be discouraged, the 10-year-old said she wants to be the first Armenian woman in the Women’s National Basketball Assn.

“I love playing basketball,” Maral said. “Even if we lose.”

Ronny Matti of Long Beach, whose basketball team was also knocked out before the finals, said the Navasartian Games event is the most important tournament of the year.

“This is where you make a name for yourself,” said Matti, who at 21 was one of the older competitors. “These are the games people talk about for a while.”