Vladimir Putin took part in the opening
ceremony of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students
at the Bolshoi Ice Dome in Sochi.
October 15, 2017
18:30
Sochi
04:43
Russia is hosting the festival
for the third time. This year, the main events will take part
in Sochi’s Olympic Park and will bring together around 20,000 young
people from more than 180 countries – the best representatives
of the student community who achieved success in science, art,
sports and politics. The festival offers comprehensive programmes
in science, education, culture and sports.
* * *
Speech at the opening ceremony
President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
Friends,
Let me welcome you all at the 19th World
Festival of Youth and Students, a forum
of the planet's youth, the most comprehensive one in its
history.
Some 30,000 participants, guests and volunteers
from more than 180 countries across all continents have gathered here
in Sochi. Here we also have young people from all across the vastness
of Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.
The first festival took place seven decades
ago. Back then, young men and women just like you were united
by the power of dreams and the belief that young people
and their sincerity and kindness can break the ice
of distrust and help rid the planet of injustice, wars
and conflicts.
Back then, young adults of your age achieved
a lot. They proved that barriers have no power against true friendship
and that the warmth of human contact does not yield
to political, ethnic, religious, cultural or any other differences.
Our country is proud to have hosted this world
youth festival twice. In 1957, the 6th festival was warmly greeted
by all the people of Moscow. In 1985, Muscovites gathered
on the city’s streets and building rooftops to cordially
welcome the guests of the 12th World Festival of Youth
and Students. Now you can experience the hospitality
and openness of the sports capital of Russia, the city
of Sochi.
At the opening ceremony
of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students.
Sochi is a city of Olympic brotherhood
and hope. Five rings, just like the five Festival chamomile petals,
have become a symbol signifying the solidarity of all
the earth’s continents.
I am certain that young people of all
countries, nationalities and faiths are united by common feelings
and values, by their yearning for freedom, and their hope
to achieve happiness, peace and accord on our planet.
By a desire to create and achieve greater things.
And we will make every effort to ensure you achieve success.
The energy and talent of young adults
possess astonishing power. Younger generations always bring innovative ideas
to the world. You strive to try new things, engage
in debate and display your ability to disagree with
the status quo and how things are done.
Be bold. Create your own future. Strive
to change the world and make it a better place. It is all
in your hands. Just be sure to never look back. Meanwhile,
the festival brotherhood will certainly help you bring your boldest
and best dreams and plans to life.
I declare the 19th World Festival
of Youth and Students open.
I wish you a happy journey!
Following the opening ceremony of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students, Vladimir Putin met with festival participants – students and young specialists from Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Jamaica, the United States, India and Zimbabwe.
October 15, 2017
20:15
Sochi
01:05:55
Moderator Ksenia Razuvayeva: Mr Putin, good evening. Starting today, we can consider our World Festival of Youth and Students open. As we speak, Sochi is welcoming over 30,000 young people from 188 countries, all with their own unique history, projects, ideas and expectations. I think everyone present here will share this with us today. Mr Putin, the floor is yours.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Let me begin by welcoming all of you.
I have already seen some of you on stage today. Each of you has had an interesting life. Even though you are young, you have already achieved something in life as you have shown your worth, conducted yourself with dignity, benefiting both yourselves and the people around you. This is how it always goes: when you live and work for the benefit of others it always pays off in spades, as they say; this approach will always benefit you, stimulate, help you develop and make you more successful and evolve as an individual, and will open many doors for you.
First, I would to welcome you and express my hope that you will like it here in Sochi, in Russia; I hope you meet interesting people just like you and learn how they live and what they strive for and what they can offer, so that you can compare their experiences with your own abilities and plans. I would very much like it if you were to receive fresh ideas in this connection, which would inspire you to move forward.
I want to thank you for coming here and to express my hope that this event will leave you enriched with additional knowledge and experiences, including an opportunity for you to experience Russia firsthand.
Our country is very wealthy, I mean primarily in terms of its culture, religion and traditions. We do not even know the exact number of ethnic groups living in our country – some say there are 160, others say 190. This is a true melting pot of cultures, history and religions, as all these people live together in a single country. There are many countries that have people of different ethnicities and languages, and we have representatives of such countries here today. Russia may not seem unique in this regard – but it is unique because our country has always been highly tolerant of other cultures, languages and faiths. It began its path as a multi-ethnic country and its underlying foundation has always been respect for its neighbours, for other nations, ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions. This has always been a fundamental part of the development of the Russian state.
