Young intellectuals ball celebrates 50 anniversary of man in space

KRASNOYARSK, February 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's over 1,500 talented
young people will take part in a traditional IQ Ball together with the
youth from the Asia-Pacific Region's countries. This year's 'star ball'
will have a motto "Let's Go," which is a phrase first cosmonaut Yuri
Gagarin said as he was taking off the Earth for the first manned space
flight. The ball will take place on February 25 and it will be devoted to
the first flight.
"As of now, over 1,500 energetic and initiative youth leaders from
various regions of Russia and the Asia-Pacific countries have confirmed
their participation," Head of the Youth Initiatives Support Department of
the regional Ministry of Sports Anna Zhuravleva told Itar-Tass.
The organises have an idea that the young intellectuals, like
cosmonauts do, will undergo a choice procedure and certain training
programmes.
"Everything will start with a theoretic course of a young cosmonaut -
they will have to fill in a questionnaire on their personal and industrial
achievements, then they will have to take part in competitions,
conferences and so no, and only after that the best will get to the
so-called Star Town to go to the Youth Space Station, where they will take
part in various projects in different modules."
Quite traditionally the grand polonaise will open the ball, which will
be closed by a waltz.
The atmosphere of space environment will be achieved by the alley of
interactive technologies, where the participants may play computer games,
draw, or watch the Earth from the space. The organisers will offer eight
interactive platforms to use.
The evening concert featuring talented youth will be the apotheosis of
the event.
Russia's first IQ Ball was organised in 2003 at the initiative of the
region's then governor, presently Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander
Khloponin.