From September 27 to October 2 in Astrakhan and Elista for the first time in the past two years the Russian-German forum of organizers of sports youth exchanges is being held in person.
The forum is one of the main events of the Russian-German Youth and School Exchange Program for 2021 and is held as part of the partnership between the Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU) and the German Sports Youth Association (Deutsche Sportjugend) an agreement between which was signed in 2017.
The forum is attended by representatives of partner organizations from Russia and Germany already implementing youth exchanges in the field of mass sports as well as representatives of organizations wishing to find partners for such exchanges. The Russian delegation included representatives of sports organizations from Vladikavkaz, Vsevolozhsk, Yekaterinburg, Yelets, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Karachaevsk, Magnitogorsk, Moscow, Novorossiysk, Orenburg, Omsk, Ryazan, St. Petersburg, Pyatigorsk, Tikhoretsk and Chelyabinsk.
At the opening of the forum participants were greeted by Denis Ashirov, the Director of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Ovchinnikov, the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Astrakhan Region, Sergey Seiranov, the President of the Russian Student Sports Union, Thomas Hoffmann, the Executive Director of the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation, Arne Klindt, the official representative of youth organizations of sports federations of the German Sports Youth Association, Grigory Petushkov, the Director of the Institute of Youth Policy and International Relations of RTU MIREA, Alexander Dzheus, the Director of the All-Russian Center “Eaglet”, Member of the Russian-German Council for Youth Cooperation
“Involving young people in regular physical culture and sports, promoting a healthy lifestyle is one of the priority tasks of state youth policy of the Russian Federation. In this context youth exchanges in the field of mass sports are an important component of Russian-German youth cooperation. This year the forum is of particular importance – for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic organizers of sports youth exchanges met in person. It will not only strengthen and restore existing partnerships, but also prepare for the resumption of youth exchanges in person after the pandemic subsides,” Denis Ashirov emphasized.
Thomas Hoffmann remarked: “I am particularly pleased that we are all here together today. Despite the difficulties, you are here to meet participants from a partner country and talk about a common future. This is a good signal. People like you are needed to create a positive future. The potential for cooperation between such sports powers as Germany and Russia is huge. I would like to thank you for this cooperation which is an important element in the further development of youth relations. You are doing a really big job!”
“Despite the difficult situation, despite the general political relationship, in sports we make sure young people meet. We will work on it. We are very glad to meet old friends here at the forum, and we are no less glad to find new partners in different regions of the country. It is very important for us all the regions of Germany are involved and those who are interested can find a specific partner. It is also great for us that we can find partners in the vast territory of Russia, also in different regions, in different universities and other organizations that share our common idea and want to help spread it, a very simple idea – so that we can meet again”, Arne Klindt said.
As part of educational program of the forum it is planned to familiarize participants with the possibilities of Russian-German youth cooperation in the new conditions, the system of sports work with youth in Russia and Germany, seminars and master classes on the topics “Intercultural education and upbringing through sports. The role of sport in the social development of the individual and society”, “Methods of organizing Russian-German sports youth exchange”, “Financing of Russian-German sports youth exchanges”, work in partner groups as well as visits to regional and local Russian organizations carrying out sports work with youth.
Organizers of the forum from the Russian side are MIREA – Russian Technological University which performs functions of the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany and the Russian Student Sports Union with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Astrakhan Region, the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia, from the German side – the German Sports Youth Association with the support of the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation.
Reference
Russian-German youth cooperation in the field of mass sports 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 and the Agreement in the field of work with youth between the Russian Student Sports Union and the German Sports Youth Association dated September 14, 2017.
