Let's Start the Future Together – World Youth Festival Opening Ceremony Takes Place

On March 2, the opening ceremony of the World Youth Festival was held at the World Market Art.Molodost. The main theme of the event is “The world is changing because I am changing.”

The ceremonial start of the World Youth Festival was given by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He noted that for young people there are no borders or dividing lines; they are ready to communicate, gain new knowledge and experience.

“You are the young generation, you dream of what a safe, just world can and should be, and it is up to you to create it. The festival will give you the opportunity to discuss this with your peers. And I’m sure that your discussions will be interesting and useful to the widest audience, as well as your impressions about the events that will take place at the festival sites, and, of course, about Russia itself, about the people who live here,” he addressed 20 thousand Festival participants from almost 190 countries of the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At the opening ceremony, guests of WYF 2024 saw the story of true love between two young people, which is familiar and understandable to every person, regardless of faith, country, profession, traditions and customs. The main characters of the show - Adeline and Andrey - grow up, learn and face difficulties on the way to their dreams. Young people had to find themselves in an ever-changing world, learn to take responsibility for themselves, their choices and their family.

To understand difficult life issues, throughout the entire show they turned to artificial intelligence, voiced by the famous actor Konstantin Khabenskyю “How can I make the world a better place?” asks the main character. “We have the power to make the future safer by creating connections and relationships. We are together, and the responsibility for the fate of the world is in our hands,” answers the invisible hero of Konstantin Khabensky.

Participants in the production visualized on stage complex themes that are close to youth - the search for one’s purpose, choosing a life path, turning limitations into opportunities, striving for a dream, interaction with the older generation, love and its embodiment in the family.

In the stage embodiment of life's journey, the main characters together understood what love and life choices are. At the end of the show, Adeline and Andrey, holding hands, realized that it was they, the younger generation, who were responsible for the fate of the world. Together with them, holding hands, thousands of participants of the World Youth Festival showed that they are ready to unite for a common future.

The role of Adelina was performed by ballet dancer, teacher of modern choreography at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography Adeliya Galimova, and Andrey was played by a student at Shchepkin VTU on the course of V.M. Beilis, actor of performances of the State Academic Maly Theater Egor Kuznetsov.

The WYF 2024 Opening Ceremony consisted of performances by dance, music, and choral groups from different countries. Each episode embodies the meaning of the Festival - responsibility for the fate of the world, multinational unity, justice, mutual assistance and teamwork, a world of opportunities for everyone, preservation of family and traditional values.

At the end of the ceremony Polina Gagarina, WYF 2024 public ambassador sang the song “A Million Voices”, which was in tune with the meaning of the World Youth Festival.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival is taking place in 2024 according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation.

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