The Union for the Progress of Latvian Youth will be the organizer of the International Youth Camp "Be-La-Rus" this year.

July 26, Minsk / Yulia Vanina - BELTA /. The Union for Youth Progress of Latvia will be the organizer of the International Youth Camp "Be-La-Rus" this year. This was announced to a BELTA correspondent by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the BRSM, Yuri Krivodubsky. For 18 years in a row, young people from three countries have been gathering at the Mound of Friendship at the junction of the borders of Belarus, Russia and Latvia. This year, the youth of Latvia will be the host of the camp, which will be held from July 30 to August 2 in the Verkhnedvinsk district of the Vitebsk region. Last year, the Russian Youth Union was the host of the tent camp, and in 2007 - the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. Yuri Krivodubsky noted that local residents are no longer surprised (and even eagerly await) that at the end of July the most active, initiative, athletic and creative youth, who are not afraid of distances and borders, with backpacks on their shoulders, gather at the location of the "Be-La-Rus" camp and set up a tent city in a forest clearing near the Mound of Friendship. The camp will feature sports competitions in football, volleyball, tug-of-war, kettlebell lifting and a sports and tourism relay race, as well as creative contests "Anti-crisis chastushki" and "Kreativ.LV.RU.BY". Also, memorable events should include the initiation of newcomers with oak branches, the "Miss and Mister Camp 'Be-La-Rus'" contests, extravagant carols by Latvian friends, "Peace Pipe", "Orlyonok" circle and much more. The Mound of Friendship was built in 1959 on the border of three states in memory of the combat cooperation of partisans of Belarus, Russia and Latvia. Three alleys run from the mound: towards Belarus - birches were planted, towards Russia - maples, towards Latvia - lindens. An oak tree grows at the top of the mound, symbolizing the good-neighborly relations of the three nations.-0-