The Union State students' sports and recreation gathering brought together Belarusian and Russian schoolchildren in the Orsha region

Vitebsk region is hosting such a large-scale youth event for the second time. The initiators are the Ministry of Education of Belarus and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, with financial support from the Standing Committee of the Union State. This year, it took place in one of the most picturesque places in the region – near the village of Zvezdnaya on the banks of the Dnieper River.

For 6 days, 400 best tourists – 40 teams of students aged 14 to 17 – from 32 regions of Russia, all regions of Belarus, and Minsk will communicate, share experiences, and showcase their skills.

Fortunately, the weather is favorable: the prolonged rains of the past week have been replaced by sunshine and almost summer warmth. Although not all guests were delighted with the Belarusian climate.

– It’s cold and windy here, – noted the coach of the Crimean team, Mikhail Melnik, with a smile. – 22 degrees Celsius – is that even a temperature? We have +33 now! But in general, we are impressed by both the reception, the organization of the competitions, and the picturesque places where the rally is held. We hope to gain new experience, make friends, and show our skills, which have been honed over many years.

– This is my first time in Belarus, – shares his impressions Yuri Kharlamov, an eleventh-grader from the city of Lyudinovo, Kaluga region. – I like it here. It’s beautiful, and the people are open and friendly. I have considerable experience in tourist rallies – 7 years. Therefore, I hope it will help me achieve high results.

The complex forest-mountainous terrain, swampy areas, and windfalls make it difficult for the young tourists these days. As Lidiya Zhur, deputy chief judge, told us, the rally program includes individual and team competitions in orienteering and tourist-applied all-around in hiking tourism techniques.

Competitions in football, volleyball, and for the first time, at the suggestion of the Orsha Center for Children and Youth Tourism and Local Lore, – bicycle tourism techniques, will be held outside the main standings.

– Special attention is paid to the organization of daily life and safety measures, – notes Lidiya Andreyevna. – Medics, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the police are on duty around the clock.

A day specially allocated for excursions allowed participants to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the Vitebsk region. Young men and women visited the famous Levki, where Yanka Kupala worked, the birthplace of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Kopyś, and some museums.

In the evening, each team presented its "visiting cards." There was plenty to see – colorful costumes, live music, and genuine children's humor did their job: the meadow buzzed and sang.

– I attended a similar rally in Moscow, – says Vladislav Timofeyev from Vitebsk. – I made new friends and kept in touch with them on social media throughout the year. It was such a pleasant surprise to meet here, in the Orsha region! It's always fun at the rally, with lots of contests. And great prizes for winning – various camping gear: backpacks, tents.

Margarita Levchenko, Head of the Department of Social Policy and Information Support of the Standing Committee of the Union State, said that before reaching the rally, the children went through serious competitions in their regions.

– All these children are united by their love for nature, a true team spirit, and empathy for their comrades. And the friendships that are forged at tourist rallies last for years, – added Margarita Pavlovna.

The children's diplomacy at the rally is something to be envied and learned from. You see Belarusian children showing intricate knots to their Russian friends, and here Russians are sharing their secrets of hiking techniques with Belarusians.

As the host region, Vitebsk Oblast presented two teams at once. The coach of Team #1, Svetlana Shornikova, Head of the Tourism and Orienteering Sector at the Vitebsk Regional Palace of Children and Youth, has been fielding regional teams at the Union State student tourist rallies since their inception – this is her 12th time.

– We held training camps in the summer, practicing the competition and sports programs, – says Svetlana. – We are hoping for good results.

The two best teams will receive special prizes and diplomas from the Standing Committee of the Union State. Winners, prize-winners, and active participants of the rally will be awarded commemorative cups, certificates, diplomas, and incentive prizes. And another, most touching moment, will be the exchange of tourist costumes – as souvenirs from friends to friends.

Olga LEBEDEVA, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".