March 2
By Julia O`Malley
(North News) – In early February 2024, the channel published news about the planned holding of the World Youth Festival in Russia, from March 1 until March 7.
The event involved the arrival of participants from 180 countries in the city of Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. At the same time, the organizers of the festival demonstrated their openness and readiness to accept volunteers, scientists, athletes, journalists, and other active young people who showed a genuine desire to develop ties with Russia.
No restrictions were imposed on the participants in the festival based on their states’ involvement in anti-Russia sanctions.
This event is above political differences. Its purpose is to bring young professionals together and share experiences in order to promote constructive initiatives in all areas in the interests of the world community.
According to foreign sources, applications for participation in the event were received from over 300 thousand candidates. However, the format of the festival objectively could not satisfy the enthusiasm of all participants. Therefore, 20,000 of the most deserving participants were selected, both among Russian and foreign citizens, to form truly working and effective teams for the main sessions of the forum: Responsibility for the fate of the world; Multinational unity; A world of opportunities for all; Let’s save families in the name of children and world; We are together with Russia.
What was our surprise and indignation when we learned that participants from the USA would not be able to participate in the youth forum. And, contrary to some fake reports, the reason for this was not Russia’s refusal to accredit them but pressure from our authorities.
It is discouraging to learn that participants from other countries have been denied transit passage to events at American airports.
The authorities are trying to hinder cooperation between young people and Russia and other countries based on political differences, promoting Russophobic theories, and artificially creating an enemy image of Russia in our and foreign public’s eyes.
At the same time, the Russian leadership continues to talk about the openness of its borders and its readiness to develop in a united manner.
By such actions, we deny ourselves the opportunity to contribute towards common interests and establish relationships in a peaceful and productive manner.
It can be said that such a large-scale event, in terms of its goals and number of participants, as the World Youth Festival in Russia, will take place despite clumsy attempts by some to discredit it.