Marathon «Russia — Family of Families» Opens in Moscow

On 5 February, the federal educational marathon «Russia — Family of Families», organized by the Znanie Society, began at the National Center «Russia» in Moscow.

The marathon brought together about 4,000 young people — representatives of over 190 peoples of Russia, as well as foreign guests. The program includes lectures, master classes, exhibitions, film screenings and cultural events dedicated to the history, traditions and modern diversity of the country. The main event was the ceremonial opening of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, to which participants from all 89 regions of the country connected via teleconference.

«In Russia live 194 peoples, each of which is unique and distinctive. A distinguishing feature of our interaction has always been mutual understanding and unity,» said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova at the opening ceremony.

Special attention in the speech was given to Russia«s intangible cultural heritage — the languages, folklore, traditions and customs of the country»s peoples. Today, Russia remains the most multilingual country in the world: there are about 300 languages, many of which are used in education, media and literature.

After the official opening, the Deputy Prime Minister visited the marathon«s thematic spaces — zones for sports, creative and culinary master classes, a multimedia exhibition dedicated to participants of the special operation, a library of folk literature, and an interactive area «17 Traditional Values of Russia».

Guests also saw the interactive exhibition «Book of Fairy Tales», where participants follow the hero«s path, overcome trials and enter a world of magic. The exhibition is dedicated to Russian tales, legends and epic poetry of the peoples of Russia. During its operation, it has already been visited by 30,000 people.

The marathon «Russia — Family of Families» is timed to the start of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and aims to strengthen interethnic harmony and mutual understanding. Among the lecturers are statesmen, military personnel, athletes and cultural figures. The program is complemented by performances by artists, fashion shows, documentaries and gastronomic projects. In addition to the marathon, more than 2,000 events have already been planned in the regions — from lectures and friendship round dances to fairs, festivals and online flash mobs.