Dear friends!
On behalf of the Russian National Preparatory Committee of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students, I greet everyone in the hospitable city of Sochi! These days here, on the shores of the Black Sea, young people from all over the world, from different countries and continents gathered to enter the history as a part of the worldwide Festival movement!
70 years ago, young people from different countries first met in Prague, united in their desire to protect the values of peace, solidarity and social justice. They laid the foundations for the tradition of the Festival movement, which has been developing and strengthening, contributing to the consolidation of more than one generation of youth. The World Federation of Democratic Youth has been the main organizer of each Festival since 1947.
Nowadays the initiative of the largest youth public associations of Russia to hold the Festival, which had united in the National Preparatory Committee, gave our country a unique opportunity to continue this tradition.
The Festival in Russia opens new opportunities for the international cooperation and forms a good basis to continue an open dialogue between the youth of the whole world. Russia has become the host country of this global event for the third time, the Festival was held in Moscow twice, in 1957 and in 1985. Each Festival, that took place in our country, influenced the fate of the participants, and we sincerely believe that the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students will play an important role in your live and will remain as the brightest event in your hearts!
We sincerely wish you a success in the discussion, cultural and sports programs of the Festival. The youth organizations of Russia will gladly share their experience and find new friends from different parts of our huge planet!
Welcome to Russia! Long live the Festival!
Chairperson of the National Preparatory Committee
of the XIX WFYS G. Petushkov
