First International Youth Friendship Festival Opens in St. Petersburg

The First International Youth Friendship Festival is to open today in St. Petersburg. According to the press service of the city's Mayor, it is organised by the Service of International Youth Contacts public organisation and supported by the city's Committee on Youth Policies. The event will be held part of the youth and students' exchange programme where over 10 countries participate.

While the festival continues, St. Petersburg will become a place to establish new contacts, exchange ideas, experiences, and information and simply to have a good time and informally meet new friends. The festival is expected to attract more attention to the city's tercentenary in 2003. More than 100 young people between 16 and 26 will be taking part. The festival's delegation consists of leaders and workers in youth civic organisations and creative work groups.

The festival will begin today at 20:00 at the Lenso club. On June 11 between 11:00 and 12:00, the festival will be officially opened at the Peter and Paul Fortress. From 22:00 to 6:00 the following morning, a concert will be performed by creative work groups participating in the festival as well as a dance programme in the Aquatoria club under the slogan 'Contemporary arts in modern St. Petersburg as we and our guests see it'. Water sports, beach football and volleyball will be played on the shore of the Finnish Gulf on June 12. On June 13, the participants in the festival will visit the Hermitage Museum and the town of Pushkin, and in the evening the end of the white nights will be celebrated.