About a thousand schoolchildren arrived in Vitebsk for the main regional Christmas tree (+ photos)
Top-performing intellectuals, titled champions, young artists who, despite their age, have already gained recognition from the public and juries of prestigious international competitions, and simply those who have successfully distinguished themselves in the past year and become role models for their peers – a total of 950 children, including pupils from boarding schools, received invitations to the region's main Christmas tree event.
Before the performance began, the children played with numerous fairy-tale characters in the lobby of the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall, danced, and made New Year's gifts in the "Santa Claus Creative Workshop," and then gladly immersed themselves in the wonderfully kind atmosphere of the classic winter fairy tale "The Nutcracker."
Representatives of the authorities came to congratulate the children – Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terenyev and Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Penin.
– New Year is the most anticipated, beloved, and warm holiday, despite the sub-zero temperatures outside, always accompanied by the scent of pine needles and tangerines. At this time, we all expect something bright and good. Here, in the concert hall, the best of the best have gathered. You are the guarantee of our bright future. Our task is to make sure that you like this holiday and remember it for a long time, – Vladimir Terentyev addressed the children.
Vladimir Vladimirovich recalled the main events of the outgoing 2016, declared the Year of Culture in our country – the celebration of the anniversaries of Belarusian literary classics Maxim Bogdanovich, Kondrat Krapiwa, Ivan Melezh and Ivan Shamyakin, and the famous bard Vladimir Mulyavin. He also noted significant events and projects in the creative life of the Vitebsk region, including the 90th anniversary of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre, the 25th anniversary of the Belarusian Puppet Theatre "Lialka", and the anniversary of the "Slavianski Bazaar" International Arts Festival.
– The upcoming 2017 will be the Year of Science, and despite the fact that you are still at school desks, many of you show serious results. 70 children received awards at the republican subject Olympiads, four became prize-winners at the international level, and 107 of our young men and women are scholarship holders of the Special Fund of the President for the Support of Talented and Gifted Youth, – emphasized the head of the Vitebsk parliamentary corps and added that young people from the Vitebsk region have also excelled in sports arenas and creative competitions. For example, Mikhey Naumenko from Orsha became the European Chess Champion, Lolita Masalova won the silver medal at the World Karate Championship, and Dmitry Denisov won prestigious Viet Vo Dao tournaments. Anastasia Gafarova shone at the international recitation competition. The successes of pianists Anastasia Pirog and Daria Izmailovskaya, and dancer Egor Kudry are pleasing.
Vladimir Vladimirovich also said that the authorities are doing everything possible to create the necessary conditions for the younger generation to live, study and develop their abilities: new educational institutions are being opened and existing ones are being reconstructed,
sports facilities are being introduced. For example, in 2016, the Palace of Game Sports in Orsha, the sports and recreation complex in Senno, a swimming pool and gym in Shumilino, a center for weightlifting in Vitebsk opened their doors to visitors, the first phase of the sports and cultural complex in Liozno also started operating, and much is planned for the next year. Also, the chairman of the regional council expressed hope that in 2017, children will bring glory to their native Vitebsk region, delight parents and teachers with their achievements and successes.Natalia Kamlyova. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV - "Vitebskiye vesti" and photos by BELTA.