Friendship Force International & International Paint Pals Exhibit Friendship at 2014 Winter Games

ATLANTA - Dec. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- (Atlanta, GA, 12/18/13) - Opening December 20 at the Sochi Institute of Fashion, Business and Law (http://www.university-directory.eu/Russian-Federation-%28Russia%29/Sochi-Institute-of-Fashion--Business-and-Law.html#.UqpEtrSi6XA), Friendship Force International and International Paint Pals present an extraordinary display of youth art representing ‘Peace and Friendship Through the Olympic Spirit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/friendshipforce/sets/72157638291422033/).'   Over 20 FFI clubs, and partner organizations Mediterranean Endeavors Advancing Development of Widespread Sustainability (MEADOWS) (http://whoisshe.lau.edu.lb/expert-profile/lena-kelekian), The ArtReach Foundation (http://artreachfoundation.org/), CISV International (http://www.cisv.org/), and theSt. Petersburg, Russia Institute for Cultural programs (http://www.spbicp.ru/?lang=l2), generated more than 400 pieces of drawings and paintings, from 50+ countries on all 7 continents.

This exclusive exhibition will be on display in Sochi, Russia to honor the 2014 Winter Olympic Games (http://www.sochi2014.com/en/) in collaboration with the Sochi Olympics Organizing Committee (http://www.sochi2014.com/en/team/committee/) as part of the prestigious Cultural Olympiad Program (http://www.olympic.org/culture-and-olympic-education-comm...). In February 2014 the exhibition will move to the International Athlete's Village, where it will remain throughout the Winter Games (2/7-2/23), and stay open through the Paralympic Games which follow (3/7-3/16).

"While International Paint Pals has mounted art projects like this at other Olympic Games and global venues - Beijing, Atlanta, and the United Nations for example," said Linden Longino, IPP's founder, "This is our biggest and most impactful one yet. We are grateful to the Russian Olympic Committee for supporting our mission and giving young people a voice of friendship on this enormous stage."

"Our worldwide Friendship Force members took to this project with enthusiasm because it helped to bring our 36-year message of global friendship to a whole new generation, but what we heard from the young people who participated was that a more peaceful world is already something they want," said Joy DiBenedetto, FFI's President.  "We hope the world will see these expressions on display in Sochi and take these ideas to heart."

ABOUT FFI:      FFI conducts more than 400 international home hospitality programs every year, in 60+ countries. Since 1977, when US President Jimmy Carter introduced the Friendship Force at a White House gathering, 1 million people have participated in the organization’s unique exchange programs. FFI's work creates global cooperation at the personal level - beyond governments and borders - where people live, work, and play in everyday life; and FFI's efforts have been honored with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1992.  Read more at www.friendshipforce.org (../AppData/Local/AppData/Local/Temp/www.friendshipforce.org).

ABOUT IPP: International Paint Pals (IPP) was formed in 1995 to provide a worldwide creative forum for young people to express their personal views on global issues and share their similarities through the universal language of art. More than 200,000 youth in 75countries on all 7 continents have participated.  Started by The Atlanta Project of The Carter Presidential Center by Linden Longino, the partner network has included The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum in London, The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  Exhibitions have been mounted for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, the Goodwill Games and the United Nations for which six major events for UN international conferences have been organized. In 2001, IPP received a “Global Tolerance Through the Arts Award” from  the UN for successfully promoting communication, understanding, and friendship. Read more at www.paintpals.org (../AppData/Local/AppData/Local/Temp/www.paintpals.org)

For more information contact:  Jillian Walters, FFI Communications Coordinator, jwalters@friendshipforce.org (../AppData/Local/AppData/AppData/Local/Downloads/jwalters@friendshipforce.org),

(770) 891-1004.