YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow.com) – Armenia will have a modest participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics – the fifth in the history of independent Armenia, according to National Olympic Committee (NOCA) officials.

At the XXI Winter Olympic Games, Armenia will be represented by only three or four athletes, all competing in skiing. But NOCA hopes that another athlete, in bobsled, could still qualify for the world’s largest winter sports event to be held in Vancouver, Canada, February 12-28.

Only in January will it become known who particularly will wear Armenian uniforms at the White Olympiad as the International Skiing Federation will then publish its final pre-Olympic ratings for athletes – for skiers on January 17 and for alpine skiers on January 25.

“After that, the International Federation and our National Olympic Committee will make the final decision,” Secretary-General of the Skiing Federation of Armenia Gagik Sargsyan told ArmeniaNow.

Sarkisian also said that at this moment Armenia has two confirmed berths for alpine skiing – one man and one woman, and one berth for cross-country skiing.

“I think after the publication of the ratings we will have another place in cross-country skiing,” said Sargsyan, adding that now all Armenian athletes are involved in rating competitions and training assemblies and will continue to stay abroad (Italy, Finland, the United States, Russia) until mid-January.

According toSargsyan, the Skiing Federation of Armenia that currently has about 600 members, is trying to restore “all good traditions” connected with the sport of skiing that existed in the Soviet times.

“Now besides traditional skiing centers in Tsaghkadzor and the Shirak province, we’re also trying to develop skiing in Aparan, Vanadzor, Hrazdan, Martuni by providing equipment, sport gear, vans to our centers there,” says Sargsyan, adding that skiing is the best sport for children in rural areas who have nothing to do in wintertime.

The Skiing Federation plans to organize free skiing lessons in Yerevan for children aged 4-14 and their parents for the purpose of developing the sport. Sargsyan thinks that it will prove an important program, since sport gear for skiing is not that affordable (a very basic full set may cost a sportsman up to 100,000 drams, or about $260), and the program will help involve more people into this sport.