The first World Festival of Youth and Students was held under the
For Peace and Friendship slogan in Prague in 1947. It was attended by 17,000 participants from 71 countries. Then, other festivals followed being held in such cities as Budapest (1949), Berlin (1951), Bucharest (1953), Warsaw (1955), Moscow (1957), Vienna (1959), Helsinki (1962), Sofia (1968), Berlin (1973), Havana (1978), Moscow (1985), Pyongyang (1989), Havana (1997), Algiers (2001), Caracas (2005), Pretoria (2010), and Quito (2013).
The festival program includes various sports events, political workshops and discussions, concerts, celebrations, and vibrant processions of delegations. The festival campaigns for peace, rights of young people, and national independence. The festival is attended by members of youth organizations, which counter fascism and military dictatorships. The festival focuses on the prevention of rekindling of a new world war.
The 19
th World Festival of Youth and Students will take place in Moscow and Sochi, Russia, from October 14 till 22, 2017. Its motto is
For Peace, Solidarity and Social Justice,
We Struggle Against Imperialism — Honoring our Past,
We Build the Future!
The stamp design features postal miniatures issued in the Soviet Union for the World Festivals of Youth and Students in 1957 (Moscow), 1973 (Berlin), 1978 (Havana), 1985 (Moscow), and 1989 (Pyongyang).
Additionally, JSC “Marka” has manufactured first day covers with cancellations (Moscow) and five maximum cards.
Design: O. Shushlebina.
Face value: 35 RUB.
Size of stamps: 50×50 mm, size of sheet: 170×128 mm.
Form of issue: sheet with illustrated margins of 5 (3×2) stamps and a coupon.
Circulation: 60,000 stamps each (60,000 sheets each).
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