JUBAIL, 4 February 2006 — The World Organization of the Scout Movement kicked off an international meet this Thursday in Al-Deffi Park in the Eastern Province town of Jubail.
The scouting camp, the first in series of planned international scout meetings, is being held with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The camp will run through Feb. 10.
British scout Liam Michel was among the first arrivals on Monday. He praised the warm welcome and hospitality. On Wednesday, the arriving contingents were Greeks, Hondurans, Brazilians, Italians, Swiss, Egyptians and Emirates.
The purpose of the scout camp is to bring together youths from all over the globe into one camp where they can share their cultural experiences and discuss global issues that will affect them throughout their lives.
The camp is divided into seven sections:
• The International Development Village, where scouts can become acquainted with the social and environmental challenges humanity faces as increased pressures are put on the planet due to population growth.
• The Information Village, where scouts can have fun with robots and computers that address taking heritage into the digital age.
• The Athletic Village, offering sports equipment and competitive events from across the globe.
• The Saudi Tourism Village, where the country sponsor gets an opportunity to showcase the Kingdom’s sites of interest in the areas of tourism, culture and religion.
• The Communications Village, where scouts can communicate with friends and relatives back home through computers with wireless Internet connections.
• The Youth Forum for Peace, where scouts can engage in open dialogue about current events.
• The Media Village, where more information about the World Organization of the Scout Movement’s activities are available.
Spokesman Bandar BoEshi said that the activities started with the parachute descent of Eastern Naval Forces carrying the Saudi flag and the slogan of the event followed by raising flags of all participant countries.
Deffi Park is a pleasant, green coastal refuge in an otherwise heavily developed industrial region. Scouts will spend a day touring the nearby Al-Naeeriah Desert, which gained its name from the mountains in the north of the desert. There were some water wells near the mountains, used by Bedouins and their herds in much the same way they have for thousands of years. Patrols of International Muslim Scouts Union, Saudi Scouts Society and Jubail Industrial City Scout Group are playing key hosting roles for the event.
