Brest, July 5. Tourist rally participants from Russia were solemnly greeted with a loaf of bread and salt to the sounds of an orchestra on the Moscow side of the railway station in Brest. At noon the rally was solemnly opened in the Brest Fortress.

The long-term youth forum is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. Therefore, the starting place was Brest - the first city to suffer from the enemy’s attack. A large-scale and festive project is being implemented on the sacred, glorious and hospitable Belarusian land, a land that saw tough fights for freedom and independence. Our grandpas and great-grandfathers had no hesitation to risk their lives to achieve the goal. At the same time, the civil-patriotic event “The Feat of the People is Immortal” began at the Fortress.

Viktor Dovnar was appointed to give a welcoming speech on behalf of the Minister of Education.

“The rally is a vivid demonstration of the tourism and local history activities of children and youth. Thousands of Belarusian and Russian student tourists annually go on hikes, learn the heroic history of our fraternal countries, conduct search work, take part in the creation and arrangement of monuments, and collect materials for museums. I am convinced you will grow up as true patriots and active continuers of the traditions of older generations!

An important goal of the rally is to expand and strengthen friendly ties between the youth of Belarus and Russia, who have common traditions, history and culture.

The best traditions of joint events between Belarusian and Russian schoolchildren will be continued in 2025 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War,” said Viktor Dovnar.

This year, the work of the tourist rally of students of the Union State is coordinated by the Ministry of Education of Belarus. Organization and preparation are the responsibilities of the Republican Center for Ecology and Local History and the Federal Center for Organizational and Methodological Support of Physical Education of the Ministry of Education of Russia.

The main venue for the rally will be the Vysoky Bereg complex in the Stolbtsy district. This is where all the tournament battles will take place. In total, more than 500 people will participate. Belarus will be represented by seven teams (one of each region and Minsk), 28 teams are of Russia.

Joint sports and tourism activities of students from Belarus and Russia will contribute to the development of children and youth tourism in the Union State. The results of the meeting will be announced July 10.