On 23rd of August, 2019, the IX World Championship of Folklore "World Folk" 2019 was opened under the motto "Identity. Diversity. Tolerance!" on the stage of Arena Theater in Sveti Vlas (Bulgaria). Special guests of the event were Mrs Aleksandra Borisova - director of International Folklore Festival "Northern Rainbow" and Foundation for Development and Culture of the Peoples of Siberia and the Far East, as well as Mrs Tsatsral Baatar - director of ArtLar culture and Asian Championship of Folklore "Asia Folk" in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Mrs. Baatar is also an arbiter on the World Championship's jury. Members of the jury commission are Mrs Mariana Nutsova - ethnologist and program director of EuroFolkTV, Mr Valko Lyubenov - director, choreographer, pedagogue, doctor honoris causa of folklore music and dances in the Ansted University UK, deputy chairman of Commission 6th at the International organization of folklore arts - IOV World - UNESCO. The Championship will be visited by about 100 vocal and dance groups, orchestras, ensembles and individual performers from Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Republic of Yakutia (Russia), Iran, South Korea and Inner Mongolia (China). Rich and diverse culture program of the events was solemnly opened by Mr Kaloyan Nikolov - president of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF and the World Association of Folklore Festivals - WAFF. He wished all the participants to present folklore of their country in the best possible way. According to an old Bulgarian tradition, foreign guests were welcomed with bread and salt - the meaning of this gesture is the expression of hospitality of the organizers and the respect to the artistry of the performers. Organizers of this great event are the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF, accredited NGO with consultative relations to UNESCO's Committee of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the World Association of Folklore Festivals - WAFF and the World Folk Academy. The Championship is held with the support of the Municipalities of Nessebar, Burgas and Pomorie under the patronage of the National Commission of Bulgaria for UNESCO. Mrs. Tsatsral Baatar and Mrs. Alexandra Borisova greeted all the participants. The chairman of the jury of the Championship - Mr. Nikolay Kravtsov expressed the importance of holding such events for the preservation and promotion of folklore traditions. He also wished all the participants success. Except for the five-hour concerts that will take place on the stages, located in Sveti Vlas, Nessebar and Pomorie, participants in the music festival will also participate in the event's rich program, including a parade, a scientific conference, a masterclass, meetings of nations, a drawing workshop, a documentary exhibition, a photo exhibition and sightseeing tours. You can watch the competition program within the music forum from 5.30pm to 10pm on August 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 31 live on Eurofolk TV and on Facebook pages of EAFF - European Association of Folklore Festivals, Eurofolk TV and Eventstream.bg. The contest for the title "Absolute World Champion of Folklore" in 2019 and the cash prize of 1000 Euro, provided by the organizers is yet to come! Photos from the event can be watched on Facebook page of EAFF.