​The international online competition Follow Up Siberia was launched to support Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019.

The organizers announced the start of the large-scale program in late April during the online session Follow Up Siberia: Communication Without Borders. This is a joint project of the Euronews international TV channel and the General Partner of Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019 - Nornickel.

The Follow Up Siberia project will be held in social media around the world and will last until February 2019. Contestants from different countries will compete for a trip to Winter Universiade, by posting videos and photos on their social networks reflecting their own ideas about Siberia.

Foreign participants have to shoot a video or make a series of photos on the topic The Corner of Siberia in My City, which will reflect their ideas about Siberia, and post materials with the #FOLLOWUPSIBERIA hashtag in one or more of the social networks: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Weibo. Contestants from Russia have to shoot a video or make a series of pictures on the topic Siberia is My Love, which will show their love for Siberia and knowledge of the sights and landmarks of the region, and post the materials with the same hashtag in Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or VKontakte. Publications in accounts shall be accessible to the public.

The contest is held from April 2018 to February 2019. It will consist of four phases, each phase determining ten winners. Five of them will be selected from among the participants who will have scored the highest number of ratings of other users ('likes'). Five others will be selected based on the decision of the competition organizing committee, which will assess the authenticity of work and the depth of content.

As a prize, the winners will have the opportunity to go on a tour to one of the Siberian cities. The prize package includes free of cost international flight, accommodation, meals, as well as a cultural program. The contestants, who become leaders in each of the four phases of selection, will get a chance to come to Krasnoyarsk during Winter Universiade 2019, which will be held from March 2 to 12, 2019. The full set of rules of the Follow Up Siberia contest is available via the link.

It is expected that foreign participants of the contest will be able to play up the 'myths' about Siberia in their pictures and videos, Maxim Urazov, Director General of the ANO "Directorate Krasnoyarsk 2019", said: "There are quite a few stereotypes about Siberia abroad, and we want to show people the real image of the region. Winter Universiade 2019 is an excellent occasion to tell what Siberia really is, what Krasnoyarsk really looks like. Many foreigners do not know that the Krasnoyarsk Territory is a large region with an interesting history and diverse culture. One more stereotype is that people here are cold, rugged, but this is not quite true. The Games give us an opportunity to show the whole world how hospitable Siberia is, what a wonderful nature is here. Siberia is a place of strength, natural energy, and a centre of people's attraction".

For Russia this is the first large-scale communication project to support the worldwide Games. Niaz Samadizade, Vice President of the Euronews TV channel content strategy noted the importance of the Follow Up Siberia program: "We're proud to be a part of the project. It's a wonderful way to tell interesting stories. The project gives the audience an opportunity to immerse themselves in the corresponding atmosphere, live the experience of another person".