Meltha Magazine Online

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2002 May Conference page 24

Sport as a Factor of Consolidation of World Assyrian Diaspora I

Igor BAR-SLIVA

3.5 billion of spectators allover the world watched XIX Olympic games in Salt-Lake City. Such is sports popularity at the beginning of a new XXI century .

A centuries-old history of the Assyrian state and then Assyrian nation, scattered allover the world, had different elements of physical training (spiritual, sacral, religious, ritual games and initiations, physical exercises of a military-applied, labor and leisure character, competitions and sports). In modern time it's necessary to preserve our own originality as an element of national culture, national character of the Assyrian nation, and its mode of life regardless of a community or civilization it integrates. Numerous archeological dig, folklore, literary sources, information of historical and cultural investigation of life, education, religion, language leisure and other spheres of life and activities testify to devotion of the Assyrians to physical exercises.

Study of genesis, formation, development and functioning of the Assyrian communities of Iraq, Iran, Australia, Sweden, the USA, Russia and other countries shows that sports, physical training, games and active rest in the mode of life of children and youth, different social groups of adults of our nation perform as factors of not only integration with countries' nations, where these communities exist, but also as factors of consolidation of world Assyrian Diaspora, preservation and isolation of our national culture and mode of life. In different countries, especially in the second half of the twentieth century , various official and friendly competitions, festivals and games among the Assyrians took place.

Not long ago in Russia an innovation project, which gives us a good chance to hold the First Assyrian Games in 2-3 years in accordance with an absolutely new and original formula and order, was elaborated. Per se it's a cultural and sports festival. Preparation and holding this action will became a stimulus for developing culture and sports of the Assyrians of different communities, evolution of rest, leisure and arts of people of various ages, diverse countries with different level and quality of life. But above all, the Games will become one more stimulus for consolidation of world Assyrian Diaspora, preservation of national culture and mode of life of the Assyrians.

We appeal to the participants of the conference, representatives of the Assyrian communities of different countries, public figures and statesmen of the Assyrian origin, Assyrian cultural and arts workers, officials of municipalities and city mayors and, of course, to sports figures to support our initiative