The World Youth Festival will span seven days in the Sirius federal district, and during that period visitors should experience the most essential attractions. Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, highlighted at the opening of the guide training program in the Sirius region that the success of the festival hinges on the expertise of those guiding the guests. The program aims to ensure that every participant has a meaningful and well-organized experience from start to finish.
Under the Rosmolodezh initiative, the training program titled “More than a Journey” is designed to prepare 300 of Russia’s top tour guides to operate across the World Youth Festival site. From a pool of ten thousand applications, the most skilled specialists across the country were selected to participate, reflecting a rigorous standard for guiding responsibilities on the event grounds and beyond. The selected guides will bring a breadth of local knowledge, cultural context, and practical experience to help international visitors understand and appreciate the venue and its surrounding regions.
Leading up to March 1, participants in the training program will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the festival area. They will complete curated routes crafted specifically for the event, including test trips that simulate real-world guiding scenarios. This preparatory phase ensures that guides are ready to handle questions, provide context, and maintain safety and logistical flow during the peak days of the festival.
Kiriyenko underscored the dual aim of pride and mutual respect. It is crucial for Russian participants to feel a sense of national pride while foreign guests develop a respectful understanding of Russia’s history, traditions, and culture. The guiding team plays a central role in conveying this sentiment effectively to a broad audience that includes young people from diverse backgrounds. The message is not only about showcasing sites but also about sharing the narratives that shape the country’s identity and heritage, offering a window into the values that have shaped generations.
Officials announced the scale of WPF-2024, noting that attendees will come from 188 countries, with about 10,000 Russians and 10,000 foreign participants, supported by 5,000 volunteers. The festival is scheduled to take place in Sirius from March 1 to March 7, a window designed to maximize cultural exchange, dialogue, and collaborative projects among youth from around the world. With such a large, diverse audience, the role of qualified guides becomes even more pivotal in fostering safe, insightful, and inclusive experiences for all attendees.
Veniamin Kondratiev, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory, expressed confidence that the World Youth Festival will stand as a landmark event in scale and impact. The preparation emphasizes not only the celebration of youth but also the opportunity to showcase the region’s hospitality, Olympic heritage, and the broader story of the Sirius district. The guiding team is tasked with presenting a clear narrative about the festival’s creation, its ongoing use, and the ways in which its mission has evolved over time, helping visitors understand both the past and the present relevance of the site. Elena Shmeleva, president of the Council of the Federal District Sirius and founder of the Talent and Success Foundation, addressed the guides with a clear directive: their performance should illuminate the objects of the festival, the Sirius district, and the region’s broader cultural and historical significance while linking these elements to the region’s development. The goal is to leave a lasting impression on participants through informed, engaging, and respectful storytelling that resonates with audiences from around the world.