10th Delphian Games to draw talents from all over Russia

TVER, May 4 (Itar-Tass) - The jubilee tenth Delphian Games of Russia
are to open here on May 14 under the "Arts. Youth. Talent" motto. They are
expected to draw talented young people from all over Russia.
Natalya Petukhova, deputy director of the regional department of
culture, has told Itar-Tass that the Games are dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS).
For three days, more than 2,000 musicians, singers, dancers,
performers, actors, disk jockeys, photographers, artists, fashion
designers, cookery experts, hair stylists, and TV journalists will be
demonstrating their skills on the best stages of this city. The best will
be cited by juries formed for each of 26 nominations.
Awards, instituted by the RF President's Decree "On Measures of State
Support for Talented Youth", will be presented to 100 laureates of
Delphian Games.
Participants in the Games will dwell in cosy cabins of seven
cruiseships that will moor at the pier of the Tver river terminal on the
bank of the Volga River. A ceremony marking the opening of the Delphian
Games will be held at the sports palace Yubileiny. At the close of the
Games, a combined team of Russia will be formed to participate in Delphian
Games due to be held under the auspices of the CIS and the Council of
Europe.
It is officially reckoned that Delphian Games originated in 582 B.C.
in the ancient Greek city of Delphi. The era of modern Delphian Games
began in 2000 when the first Modern World Delphian Games were held in
Moscow.

.43 new public gardens to appear in Sochi by May 14.

SOCHI, May 4 (Itar-Tass) - This city's landscape architects are to
finalize the establishment of 43 new public gardens by May 14, the day
when the vacationing season begins.
The city's Vice-Mayor Nikolai Govorushchenko has told Itar-Tass that
3,500 seedlings have been already brought in. Among them are fan palms,
date palms, maples, eucalyptuses, magnolias, cypresses, yew, arbovitae,
sweet gums, camelias, oaks, and birch-trees. All in all, by summer, more
than 6,000 plants are to grow in parks and flower-beds of the health
resort.
A comprehensive approach to lanscape architecture with a compulsory
elaboration of a design project and participation of florists is being
applied to Vinogradnaya (grape vines) Street near a St Vadimir Church
which is under construction, in the Imereti Bay, and in a residential
neighbourhood for relocatees.
New floristic landmarks will emerge in Sochi by the summer season.
Plants depicting a "green steam locomotive" have appeared in the public
garden that has been revived through the efforts of the city authorities
near the railway terminal. Locals have already proposed adding a couple of
floral "coaches" to it. Two 40-year-old bonsai and one 160-year-old one
have been planted in the Russo-Japanese Friendship Garden opposite the
Arts Square. The city administration building is "guarded" by two floral
bears.
A city administration official pointed out that the purchases of
seedlings from Russian and foreign garden nurseries will be continued for
plants to please the eye in all seasons.
Govorushchenko said the main task of landscape architects is to secure
that the health resort is in bloom the year round. This done, in 2014, the
venue of the Winter Olympic Games will greet Olympians and guests not
only with snow and ice but with a real profligacy of bloom as well.