Ararad SA
Lebanese-Armenian sports and cultural club with left-wing roots.
Ararad Sports Association is a Lebanese-Armenian sports and cultural organization established in 1969. It is considered a continuation of the earlier club Pagramian, which was closed by the Lebanese government in 1960. The association is regarded as having left-wing leanings.
- born
- 1969
- field
- Sports and cultural organization
- nationality
- Lebanese-Armenian
- known_for
- Continuation of Pagramian; left-wing leanings; football and chess divisions
Lore & Background
Ararad Sports Association was founded in 1969 to fill the void left by the closure of Pagramian, which had been shut down by the Lebanese government in 1960 due to its affiliation with the Lebanese Communist Party. During the Lebanese Civil War, in 1976, the extreme right-wing Phalangist Party militia confiscated the association's locale because of its political leanings, halting club activities. The president, Simon Kazandjian, and a relative, Kevork Kazandjian, were killed in that period.
After conditions in Lebanon became more peaceful, the association regrouped in 1988, forming a new administrative committee and launching a football team that played in the Lebanese Third Division. In 1996, the club regained the right to repossess its confiscated locale after negotiations with Phalangist party leaders, and received support from Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who contributed funds to purchase the locale and sponsored the opening ceremony.
On 4 June 2009, Ararad formed a chess division. On 21 June 2012, the club disbanded its football team.
Reader's Guide
Ararad Sports Association holds significance as a Lebanese-Armenian institution that emerged from the political suppression of its predecessor, Pagramian. Its left-wing leanings and the violent confiscation of its locale during the Lebanese Civil War illustrate the intersection of ethnic identity and political conflict in Lebanon. The club's ability to regroup in 1988 and later recover its property through negotiation and support from Prime Minister Rafic Hariri demonstrates resilience and the role of political patronage in post-war reconstruction. The formation of a chess division in 2009 and the disbandment of its football team in 2012 mark its evolving focus. As a cultural and sports organization, it represents the continuity of Armenian community life in Lebanon amid shifting political landscapes.
Did You Know?
- Ararad Sports Association was established in 1969 as a continuation of the Lebanese-Armenian club Pagramian.
- The club's locale was confiscated in 1976 by the Phalangist Party militia during the Lebanese Civil War.
- President Simon Kazandjian and a relative, Kevork Kazandjian, were killed during the conflict.
- The club formed a chess division on 4 June 2009 and disbanded its football team on 21 June 2012.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ararad SA?
Ararad Sports Association is a Lebanese-Armenian organization dedicated to sports and cultural life, founded in 1969. It runs competitive divisions in football and chess while also serving as a broader community institution.
How did Ararad SA come into existence?
The club was established in 1969 as a direct successor to the earlier Pagramian organization, which the Lebanese government forcibly shut down in 1960. Ararad picked up where Pagramian left off, preserving the same community's sporting and cultural identity under a new banner.
What political leanings is Ararad SA associated with?
The association is widely recognized as having left-wing ideological roots. This political orientation has been a defining feature of the club's culture and community standing since its 1969 founding.
What sports and activities does Ararad SA operate?
The club maintains active competitive divisions in both football and chess. Beyond competition, it functions as a cultural hub for the Armenian community in Lebanon.
Why is Ararad SA classified as a phoenix club?
Ararad is regarded as a phoenix club because it was reborn in 1969 after the state dissolved its predecessor, Pagramian, in 1960. The new organization deliberately carried forward the same community's sporting and cultural mission, rising from the forced closure of the earlier entity.
More in Phoenix clubs 1-24
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