Vladimir Putin addressed the closing ceremony of the Bolshaya Peremena national contest finals. Ahead of the event, the President met with the participants and finalists of the seventh season of the national contest.
Bolshaya Peremena is part of the Youth and Children national project and serves as the flagship initiative of the Movement of the First, a nationwide children’s and youth organisation. This year’s finals are being held at Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk from July 29 to August 4. Over 800 schoolchildren are taking part, including students in years 5–7 from Russian regions, as well as high school students from other countries. The top prize is a Dream Journey – a train trip across Russia.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, good afternoon,
I am truly delighted to see you all here today. It is a genuine pleasure to meet those who have demonstrated the very best qualities in discovering their true selves and their calling – not only for their own future, but for the future of Russia. It is heartening to see young men, teenagers, and kids, each with their own creative gifts, each seeking a path in their life and looking forward with purpose.
I would like to note that over the years we have been running the Bolshaya Peremena contest, more than seven million people have taken part – just imagine that.
But it is not just about the number of people who are taking or have already taken part in this wonderful event. It’s about the results achieved by those who have gone through the Bolshaya Peremena testing. Many of them have become students of the country’s top universities and institutions of higher learning. Others have followed a creative path, launched their own websites and platforms, and are working in the arts – doing so with success.
In this connection, I wish to extend my gratitude to your mentors, instructors, teachers, and representatives of the business community. Let us thank them for their invaluable contributions and give them a round of applause. (Applause.)
I am absolutely confident that during these tests, you too have come to understand much about yourselves and have identified your best qualities. At the same time, you have probably also noted things you need to improve. All of this is of immense importance for your future.
It is wonderful that your meeting is taking place here, in Krasnoyarsk. I wish to draw your attention to the fact that this is the geographical centre of our vast country. Krasnoyarsk is located at the geographical centre of Russia; it is a major industrial, scientific, and educational centre of the Russian Federation. Becoming acquainted with its life, with the city, is both an exciting and enjoyable experience, I hope.
It is known – well known both to me and to you – that 300 finalists of the Bolshaya Peremena will travel across the country. This, in fact, will be a continuation of the contest as you will meet with inspiring people, take part in interesting seminars, and have a chance to see virtually the entire territory of our country – from Vladivostok all the way to its western borders. This is truly wonderful. I sincerely congratulate you on this achievement. (Applause.) I am confident that this will make an additional contribution to your development and afford you the opportunity to observe how our country is progressing, how it is moving forward. I am confident that this, too, will help you find your place in the progressive development of our wonderful Motherland.
My friends, I wish you every success. And I want to thank you for taking part in this contest.
Thank you!