Smolensk hosted the Olympiad "Russia and Belarus: historical and spiritual unity” for the school students from the Union State

The concert hall of the Smolensk State University hosted the closing ceremony of the final round of the Olympiad "Russia and Belarus: historical and spiritual unity" for the school students from the Union State.

About 180 people took part in the Olympiad, the main objectives of which are to strengthen the friendship ties between the youth of Belarus and Russia, to expand cooperation and collaboration between educational institutions of the two countries, to increase students’ interest in the study of historical and literary heritage, cultural traditions of the two fraternal nations, to develop creativity and character of school students.

The first Olympiad for the school students from the Union State was held in 2004. The Council of Ministers of the Union State produced an order of July 23, 2007 to hold it annually.

There are two rounds in the Olympiad. This year's qualifying round, at which the participants had to do a written task on the comprehensive analysis of a poetic or prosaic text, was held from 2nd to 30th of September in 22 regions of the Russian Federation, in all the regions of the Republic of Belarus and in Minsk. The winners of the qualifying round were put in teams participating in the final round of the Olympiad (six students of 10th and 11th years of the general secondary education institutions from a region).

The program of the final round of the Olympiad traditionally involves two compulsory tasks (writing an essay and a complex task on the Russian language and literature) and creative tasks in rhetorical skills, expressive literary reading, and general encyclopedic knowledge.

The jury of the Olympiad is comprised of the famous Russian and Belarusian scientists, leading university lecturers, and practicing teachers.

This year the Olympiad for school students continues the series of thematic events in the Union State, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This theme will be reflected in the Olympiad tasks of the final round.

The Olympiad program includes meetings with veterans of the Great Patriotic War, visiting the memorial complex "Katyn", laying flowers to the monument of military glory, tours of Smolensk and Smolensk region.

The results of the Olympiad for school students from the Union State will be announced on November, 1 at 11.00 in the concert hall of the Smolensk State University. The winners and active participants of the Olympiad will be awarded diplomas and valuable prizes.