WYF 2024 Receives 6 Times More Applications Than the Previous Festival

Preparation for the World Youth Festival is in its final stages. The World Youth City is preparing to host 20,000 participants from more than 180 countries, which is an absolute record. Ksenia Razuvaeva, Head of Rosmolodezh, announced this today at a press conference at MIA Rossiya Segodnya.

"We are on the verge of a planetary-scale event with an absolute record of more than 300,000 people who have applied to participate. This is six times more than in 2017, so we are destroying the myth that Russia is isolated. We are ready to host the Festival. Now we are in the final stage of preparing the venues that are the legacy of the Olympics. We are also experienced in organizing international events of this scale," said Ksenia Razuvaeva.

She also talked about the challenging selection process that the applicants went through. It consisted of six stages. These included a portfolio, an essay, and a self-introduction video. A ranking list of participants was created based on the information provided by the applicants. The final stage is the formation of delegations. The organizers selected the applicants who received the highest number of points in the selection process. In other words, they selected the best of the best. Preference was given to the most active and socially active people who deserve to represent Russia at the international Festival. The organizers also paid attention to the importance of the projects of future participants and their achievements.

As part of the World Youth Festival, the Sirius Educational Center and the Movement of the First will host a special children's program, Together into the Future.

"Such a program is taking place for the first time in the history of the world festival movement. I am happy that we are starting this tradition in Sirius, which has a strong commitment to supporting and developing talented young people. Over 80,000 people from 144 countries applied to participate in the program, and only 1,000 children – 500 from Russia and 500 from abroad – were selected. In Sirius, they will work in the areas of science and education, technology and innovation, culture and arts, humanities and social sciences, sports and ecology. Their teachers and mentors will be partners of the Sirius Educational Center and Sirius University, as well as experts from the Movement of the First. They will help students choose the right direction and open up their opportunities," said Elena Shmeleva, Head of the Sirius Educational Center and Chair of the Board of the Sirius Federal Territory.

She added that after the Festival, 100 participants of the children's program, who have passed the additional selection, will continue their studies in Sirius. From March 8 to 21, they will participate in the Global Big Challenges program. The participants will work in international teams to develop scientific and technological solutions of global relevance offered by Sirius' major high-tech partners.

Grigory Gurov, Chair of the Board of the Movement of the First, noted that the Festival is a unique opportunity to see how our children and young people are creating the future together.

"The program is structured so that the participants learn the past, try the present, and understand the future. Our 18 workshops will host classes, thematic international events, and an information campaign. The content we end up with will be the legacy of the Festival. The main idea is that the whole Festival is done by the youth and children themselves. This co-authorship principle is unique. The participants will be co-hosting and co-organizing all the events that will take place at the Festival," added Grigory Gurov.

Sergey Pershin, First Deputy Director of the World Youth Festival Directorate and WYF 2024 Program Director, revealed some secrets of the opening ceremony.

"The most interesting and memorable technical solutions, as well as touching moments will be used. Each of the meanings of the Festival days will be emphasized, visualized, and revealed. These are the meanings shared by young people around the world. The meanings that Russia is currently fighting for," he stressed.

The general partner of the WYF 2024 educational program, Russian Znanie Society, will offer more than 100 outstanding lecturers at the Knowledge.First Educational Marathon.

"It is a great honor and responsibility for us to be the general partner of the educational program of the World Youth Festival. We have planned a number of events at the site. The main event will be the Knowledge.First educational marathon, which will take place from March 2 to 6 at six venues of the World Youth City. Znanie.TV will broadcast the most impressive performances," said Maksim Dreval, CEO of the Russian Znanie Society.

Anton Pashkov, Advisor to the Head of Rosmolodezh, said that more than 1,000 journalists from 36 countries will cover the Festival.

"Journalists are not just welcome guests at youth policy events. They are also full participants. In the context of the information war that is currently being waged against our country in the Western media, it is of course very important for us to provide comprehensive, objective and accurate coverage of the Festival, its values and goals. The opinions of the younger generation and participants from more than 180 countries around the world should be heard," Anton Pashkov stressed.

He also noted that the press center volunteers will speak more than four languages.

According to Artem Metelev, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy and Chair of the Council of the Association of Volunteer Centers, more than 50,000 applications were received. Volunteers will be in charge of the arrival and departure of participants and guests, their food&beverage, accommodation, and navigation.

"We selected 7,800 volunteers with an average age of 27. The oldest volunteer is 81," he said.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival will take place in 2024 according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. At the first meeting of the Organizing Committee chaired by Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, it was decided to hold the Festival in the Sirius Federal Territory.

20,000 young leaders in education, science, international cooperation, culture, volunteering, charity, sports, business, media, etc., including 10,000 foreign participants, will take part in the WYF 2024. For the first time in the history of the festival movement young people aged 14-17, 500 from Russia and 500 from abroad, will have the opportunity to participate in the event.

The World Youth Festival is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and operated by the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Prepared by the WYF 2024 Press Office