Sochi:This decision was made by the World Federation of the Democratic Youth and international studentsโ organizations on February 7, 2016, at the consultation meeting on the host country of the 19th Festival. Russia hosted the festival twice in its Soviet period of history – in 1957 (VI festival) and in 1985 (XII festival). VI World Festival of 1957 held in Moscow was the largest one in terms of the number of participants in the history of the festival movement.
The Festival is aimed at consolidating the youth around the idea of justice, strengthening international ties, as well as promoting international and intercultural cooperation.
Following the history of the festival movement, the 19th Festival will open a new phase in international cooperation and unite future generations behind the idea of peace and friendship.
As in previous years, the Festival’s emblem is a colorful chamomile, which stands for the continuity of traditions, intergenerational ties, the peace and unity of the entire international community. The central elements of the 19th Festival’s emblem are colorful pixels that symbolize the common interests of the world’s youth in the era of information technologies and technological progress. Diverse views and opinions is the main distinguishing feature of the 19th Festival of Youth and Students.
The Festival is a platform for dialogue and a form of international communication. Discussions, a cultural program, sporting competitions and an open dialogue within the framework of this event will help its participants to find a response to the challenges facing young people today.
The Festival’s discussion program includes various platforms, namely panel discussion, open lectures and scientific conferences. The key issues on the preliminary agenda are as follows: “Culture and globalization”, “Global economy”, “Knowledge economy”, “Social institutions’ development” and “Politics and international security”.
More than 20 000 young people from 150 countries will participate in the Festival. The Festival’s working languages are the 6 official languages of the United Nations.
The platform will gather young leaders from various spheres: representatives of youth NGOs, young journalists, artists and sportsmen, leaders of youth organizations and political parties, young professors and scientists, as well as compatriots and foreigners who study Russian language and are interested in Russian culture.
The Festival’s International Media Centre has been set up on November 1, 2016. It is comprised of young journalists and bloggers from all over the world. They will cover the preparation for the Festival and its major events.A large volunteer corps will assist in organizing the Festival.
Application for the Festival is available on the website russia2017.com.Application forms are accepted from young people aged 18-35. Accommodation and food costs during the Festival shall be covered by the organizers. The sending party shall cover the travel expenses to Sochi and back. Arrangement of charter flights from various countries to Sochi is currently under consideration.participants of the Festival will get permission for a visa-free entry to the Russian Federation.
The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event, organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), a left-wing youth organization, jointly with the International Union of Students since 1947.
The largest festival was the 6th, held in 1957 in Moscow, when 34,000 young people from 131 countries attended the event. This festival also marked the international debut of the song “Moscow Nights”, which subsequently went on to become perhaps the most widely recognized Russian song in the world. In terms of the number of the attending countries, the largest festival was the 13th, held in 1989 in Pyongyang, North Korea, when 177 countries attended the event.
