VITEBSK, 25 July (BelTA) – The 26^th international summer camp Be-La-Rus 2017 will host Belarusian, Latvian, and Russian young people in Verkhnedvinsk District, Vitebsk Oblast from 27 to 30 July. This year the forum’s motto is “25 years together towards the 19^th World Festival of Youth and Students”, BelTA learned from the Vitebsk Oblast Committee of the BRSM Youth Union.

The camp will be traditionally organized at the tripoint between Belarus, Russia, and Latvia to bring together their enterprising, athletic, and gifted youth. Over 300 Belarusians are expected to come to the camp from all Belarus’ regions and the city of Minsk. The number of Russians is going to be just as large. The Latvian delegation is traditionally smaller than the two other ones. The young people are set to gather at the Mound of Glory created at the tripoint in 1959 in honor of Belarusian, Latvian, and Russian partisans. This is why the camp’s program will put special focus on promoting the sense of patriotism and national identity. There are plans to hold a meeting to commemorate the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and also visit a museum of its history.

In general, the camp aims to develop and strengthen the existing contacts and cooperation. Young leaders and active members of youth organizations intend to exchange experience and discuss ways to cooperate ahead of the 19^th World Festival of Youth and Students due in Sochi, Russia in October 2017. The event is expected to become the largest one in this field and gather over 20,000 young people from 150 countries: representatives of non-profit organizations, best students, and those who have achieved success in science, art, sports, pedagogy, IT, and politics. Five thousand volunteers will help the organizers hold the festival.

Be-La-Rus 2017 will help work out new ideas for the festival and form international teams and spearheads. The camp’s participants will be offered an eventful sports and creative program: football and volleyball tournaments, tug-of-war and darts competitions, musicals performances, and many other events.

This year the summer camp is powered by the Russian Union of Youth.

BELARUSIAN NEWS