One Month to Go to WYF 2024 – Sochi and Sirius Prepare for the World Youth Festival

There World Youth Festival is exactly one month away. The major international event will be hosted by the Sirius Federal Territory and Sochi, where active preparations for the WYF 2024 are currently underway. 

Sochi and Sirius are preparing to meet Russian and foreign participants of the Festival. For the convenience of the WYF 2024 guests, a new pedestrian alley near the Educational Center will open in the Sirius Federal Territory by March. It will connect Olimpiyskiy prospekt and the sea promenade. Works on repair and improvement of the Festival area are in progress. A new viewing platform has been opened on the bank of the Mzymta River, a resting place on Voskresenskaya ulitsa has been repaired not far from it, a pedestrian path connecting the territory near the seaport and the promenade has been opened, and the replacement of lighting on the main streets continues.

"The World Youth Festival is the largest youth event of this year in Russia. We are happy that it is the Sirius Federal Territory that hosts it, as one of its main tasks is to create opportunities for the exposure and development of young people's talents. We have extensive experience in organizing major national and international events, and as the host country, we will do everything to make the Festival guests feel comfortable and safe in Sirius. We have prepared all our infrastructure for this, including extensive improvements to the area and new areas for leisure and recreation. I am sure that the World Youth Festival will be a platform for building new international relations, establishing a dialogue between young people from different countries, and creating and developing joint projects. And, of course, we want our guests to remember Russia and Sirius forever, and to want to return here in the future working together to create groundbreaking projects that will help improve life in our countries and around the world," said Dmitry Plishkin, Head of the Sirius Federal Territory.

The infrastructure of the territories reminds the residents of the upcoming event. The urban facilities now feature the Festival theme. In Sirius, the bridges, previously painted in the colors of the 2014 Winter Olympics, are now decorated in yellow, green and pink, the colors of the WYF 2024. In Sochi, the bridge at the intersection of ulitsa Severnaya and ulitsa Konstitutsii SSSR is illuminated in the colors of the Russian flag, and the figure of Cheburashka, the Festival mascot, is installed in the Frunze Park.

"First of all, we have renovated the urban environment and installed light elements and small architectural forms. Sochi has developed many routes for non-guided tours and a rich calendar of events. It includes many sports and cultural events that will be held during the Festival not only for the participants, but also for all our residents and guests of the city. We also improved the guest areas in advance. Popular walking areas in the city were reopened for the Festival, and transportation was re-organized. New modern buses are running on the routes between Sochi and the Olympic Park," said Alexey Kopaygorodsky, Mayor of Sochi.

Final preparations are also underway at Sirius hotels. The Sirius Hotels chain is making every effort to ensure high standards of hospitality and comfort for the WYF 2024 participants. Festival flags are installed on the territory of the complex for the navigation of guests, guest areas and lobbies are decorated in the colors of the WYF 2024, and new canteens are being opened in the hotel, designed to serve a large number of visitors. There will also be mobile SIM card and exchange points for foreign participants. There is also no need to worry about safety. The hotels strictly follow the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor, provide full vaccination of staff, non-contact thermometers for all employees and guests at the entrance, and regular disinfection of rooms.

Restaurants in Sochi and the Sirius Federal Territory have created special themed treats for the WYF 2024 guests in the Festival colors of yellow, green and pink. Souvenir vendors are also preparing to welcome the 20,000 Festival participants and guests. It will be possible to buy traditional magnets, key rings, cups, clothes, as well as cheese, basturma, churchkhela and much more to remember the Festival and hospitable Russia.

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.