23rd World Scout Jamboree – Opening Ceremony

Wa: A Spirit of Unity is the theme for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree – a gathering of 33,000 Scouts from 163 countries for 10 days of inspiration. All of these young adults, leaders and ambassadors of peace have been handpicked by their National Associations to represent a Scouting Unity that is 108 years old.

Everybody gathered for the opening ceremony – excitement levels were palpable and the noise level insatiable as the wait for the start of the Jamboree was finally over! Collectively the Scouts had travelled thousands of miles to join with people they’d never met, share stories in hundreds of languages, breakdown cross cultural boundaries and build life-long friendships.

Hundreds of flags and banners from around the world waved in unison as Takayasu Okushima San – Camp Chief – took to the stage. He received a vociferous cheer, as he declared the Jamboree open. A programme of peace, cultural exchange and unity begins tomorrow, but the most powerful agenda for the young people will be that of sharing inspiration and taking all of their skills gained from the Jamboree back to their thousands of local communities around the world.

The excitement has only just begun for these 33,000 young people as they have ahead of them 10 days of inspiration and a lifetime of Scouting. They are the future leaders who will share with the world everything they are experiencing now at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Kirara-Hama – Japan – and will continue Baden-Powell’s vision of delivering a Better World.