The message reads, in part:
“Over the past years, the games have won great popularity and become a recognised competitive platform for active and talented children devoted to fitness and an active and healthy lifestyle. It is good that many of them dedicated their future to professional sports and successfully compete at prestigious international championships. And of course, your traditional competitions serve to promote the Olympic principles, expand international humanitarian cooperation, and strengthen friendly and personal contacts.
I am confident that this games will be a success, and be remembered for their intensity of an honest, uncompromising competition, an interesting and varied cultural programme.”