The preparations for the World Youth Festival have kicked off in Nizhny Novgorod
On June 24, during the Youth Day celebrations in Nizhny Novgorod, the registration for the World Youth Festival was officially launched. Both Russian and international youth can apply to participate on the official website of the WYF-2024 - https://fest2024.com/.
Daria Semenova, a student at RUDN University, was the one to submit the very first application to participate in the Festival. It was she who approached the Russian President in January this year with the proposal to host the Festival in Russia.
Ksenia Razuvaeva, head of Rosmolodezh (Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs), pointed out that next year Russia will welcome youth from all around the world.
"One of the primary objectives of the World Youth Festival is to establish a platform for fostering connections among enthusiastic young people from across the globe. In 2024, the Festival's venue will transform into the epicenter of a future marked by a just world, where mutual respect for one another, values, and diverse cultures of various countries and peoples take precedence. Russia welcomes all those who aspire to better the world and forge a future grounded in reciprocal dialogue and equitable international cooperation," emphasized the director of Rosmolodezh (Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs).
During the presentation, the Festival Directorate unveiled the visual identity of WYF-2024. The Festival logo showcases a stylized representation of human figures as if viewed from above. These individuals have different personalities, faith, ideas, convictions, culture, lifestyles, and perhaps even race and nationality. However, what unites them is a common aspiration: the longing to live in a world where everyone can embrace their true selves, live and develop in ways they prefer, without imposing their values on others or becoming subject to such coercion.
The Festival's symbol is rooted in the idea of a multipolar world, with its outlines already beginning to take shape, yet still awaiting full creation. It is the youth, the representatives of future generations, who will come together at the "Sirius" Federal Territory in the spring of 2024 to build this world.
Within the logo, the circle remains open: a symbol that represents the future we envision, one that is inclusive and open to all. It is meant for those who hold respect for themselves, their country, their people, and their values – individuals who are equally willing to honor the values of others. They are the ones who seek connection rather than division, extending a hand in pursuit of a shared and peaceful future. Those who find joy in a colorful mosaic rather than dull uniformity, where each element shines with uniqueness, and they all come together to form a unified and harmonious masterpiece.
The concept of the Festival program was also presented in Nizhny Novgorod. Sergey Pershin, the Program Director of WYF-2024, introduced the principles of the program's development. Maxim Dreval, the General Director of the Russian Society "Znanie," discussed the integration of Russian public organizations into the program. Elena Egorova-Kirillova, the Deputy General Director of the Corporate Academy of Rosatom, outlined the involvement of business partners in shaping the Festival's program. Olympic champion Daria Shkurikhina shed light on the unique aspects of the Festival's sports component. The cultural program of WYF-2024 was unveiled through an immersive media show by director Sasha Shumilin. Additionally, the organizers shared insights on the participation of regions and educational institutions, highlighting the examples of Tyumen city and MGIMO University.
According to the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, Nizhny Novgorod is ready to become a focal point for regional programs.
"The Nizhny Novgorod region has already put forward several proposals for the Festival's program preparation. For instance, we're ready to collaborate on designing the sustainable development agenda and share our experience in digital transformation across society and crucial economic sectors, as well as bringing on board the best creative and sports groups from Nizhny Novgorod," explained the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The Directorate of the World Youth Festival has launched a bilingual chatbot, "Program Director of WYF," to receive program proposals from both Russian residents and international participants. The presentation of the chatbot took place in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24th as part of the Youth Day celebration. The chatbot operates in two languages: Russian and English. This tool allows anyone to share their vision and collaborate as co-authors in shaping the Festival's program.
To conclude the presentation of WYF-2024, young people from Russia and other countries initiated a countdown of 250 days until the World Youth Festival. An art installation with a clock was officially activated on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street. Ivan Sukhov, a 14-year-old Nizhny Novgorod resident and ambassador of the Russian Children and Youth Movement, began the countdown.
The art installation embodies a vision of a youth city - a metropolis that encompasses diverse elements, symbolizing the multifaceted, daring, and dynamic nature of youth culture. Each facet of the installation reflects important aspects of the life of the youth, be it technology, art, sports, education, or the social sphere.
The World Youth Festival will take place in 2024, under the Decree of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. It is aimed at fostering international youth cooperation. During the first session of the Organizing Committee, under the chairmanship of the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Sergey Kirienko, it was decided that the Festival will be held at the "Sirius" Federal Territory from March 1st to March 7th, 2024. The Regional Program of the World Youth Festival will run from March 10th to March 17th, 2024, with participants visiting 26 cities across Russia.
20,000 young leaders from various fields, including business, media, education, science, international cooperation, culture, volunteering, charity, sports, and others will participate in the World Youth Festival, including 10,000 foreign participants. For the first time in the history of the Festival movement, teenagers aged 14 to 17 years will have the opportunity to take part in the event, with 500 coming from Russia and another 500 from abroad. The organization and execution of the Festival will engage 5,000 volunteers from all regions of Russia, including 250 residents from the Luhansk People's Republic, Donetsk People's Republic, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
Prepared by the World Youth Festival Press Office