Vahram Papazyan

Vahram Papazyan (; 12 September 1892 – 6 March 1986) was an Armenian athlete. He was one of two athletes that represented the Ottoman Empire's first official appearance in the Olympic Games. Vahram Papazyan, along with fellow Armenian Mıgırdiç Mıgıryan, were the only two athletes who represented the empire in the country's first official participation of the Olympics. Papazyan participated in Men's 800 metres and Men's 1500 metres. Life Of Armenian descent, Vahram Papazyan was born in Constantinople and was the son of Sarkis who was a newsstand owner. During the dawn of every morning, Papazyan would run from his residence in the Bebek neighborhood of Istanbul to the Babiali to pick up news and return it to his fathers kiosk. After completing this task, Papazyan ran to Robert College where he attended school. In the 1906 Intercalated Games held in Athens, Vahram Papazyan participated in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters run finishing 8th place and not finishing respectively. At the age of 13 years and 256 days, Papazyan was the youngest man to compete at the 1906 Athens Olympics. When Turkey was admitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1911, president of Turkey's Olympic committee Selim Sırrı Tarcan placed advertisements in the local Ikdam and Sabah newspapers in order to recruit athletes for the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Papazyan immediately responded to the advertisement and expressed his desires to participate in the games.