Russian-German forum of organizers of sports youth exchanges (archive event)

Russian-German youth cooperation is carried out in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of youth cooperation of December 21, 2004.

Purposes 

• Development and strengthening of partnerships for the implementation of Russian-German youth exchange projects in the field of mass sports, 
• Informing about possibilities of Russian-German youth cooperation, 
• Acquaintance with the system of sports work with youth in Russia and Germany.

Participants were 100 people. They were 

• representatives of partner organizations from Russia and Germany who already have experience in organizing joint youth exchanges in the field of mass sports, 
• representatives of Russian organizations interested in holding Russian-German youth exchanges in the field of mass sports, 
• representatives of organizations assisting the development of Russian-German youth cooperation.

One of the priority areas for the implementation of the 2004 Agreement was the holding of joint youth events in the field of sports (meaning mass sports, since the Agreement does not address issues of youth exchange in the field of elite sports).

In 2017 in order to intensify bilateral youth cooperation in the field of mass sports the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany initiated the creation of a partnership between the Russian Student Sports Union and the German Sports Youth Association Deutsche Sportjugend (dsj) im Deutschen Olympischen Sportbund e.V. (the corresponding cooperation agreement was signed on September 14, 2017 in Rostov-on-Don).

Traditional events within this area of ​​bilateral cooperation have become joint forums of organizers of sports youth exchanges aimed at creating partnerships between Russian and German organizations for the further implementation of youth exchange projects in the field of mass sports. The first forum was held from September 24 to 29, 2017 in Berlin, the second – from October 7 to 12, 2018 in St. Petersburg, the third – from September 22 to 27, 2019 in Dortmund.

At the 15th meeting of the Russian-German Council in the field of youth cooperation it was decided to hold the fourth forum in 2020 in Russia. Due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus infection the forum was held online.

Results

As a part of the program of the 1st day of the forum with the participation of representatives of partner organizations from Russia and Germany who already had experience in organizing joint youth exchanges in the field of mass sports a discussion took place on the current situation and prospects for conducting Russian-German youth exchanges in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Issues of financing and visa support for youth exchanges were also discussed. In addition, successful youth exchange practices in the field of sambo, scuba diving and volleyball were presented.

As a part of the program of the 2nd day of the forum a webinar for representatives of Russian organizations interested in conducting Russian-German youth exchanges in the field of mass sports was held. Participants got acquainted with possibilities of Russian-German youth cooperation, the system of sports work with youth in Russia and Germany, the methodology for conducting Russian-German youth exchanges in the field of mass sports.

On the final day of the forum partner organizations from Russia and Germany presented joint projects planned for 2021 in such sports as sambo, boxing, handball, football, mountaineering, sports tourism, chess, underwater sports and others.