The UN Permanent Coordinator's Office in Turkmenistan, the State Committee on Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan organized a meeting at the Multifunctional Sports Complex of the Olympic Village in Ashgabat on Tuesday, July 4. The event was dedicated to the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and gathered many young people.

The main goal of the meeting was to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle, to increase the popularity of physical culture and sports, and to explain the significance of peace and gender equality among young people.

First, the representatives of the agencies responsible for the event made their speeches. In this context, it should be noted that planned work is underway in the country to prevent the use of drugs among young people and to protect them from bad habits. Physical culture and sports events play a special role in this work. Different competitions, contests and games are held to attract young people to physical culture and sports on a regular basis. The winners receive generous gifts at those events. At the same time, promotional work is underway among the youth. Moreover, different trainings, consultations, meetings and round tables are held in this field on a regular basis. International and national public organizations coordinate special events to attract young people to physical culture and sports. Thanks to these events, the number of young people who start with physical culture and sports is increasing every year. The sports facilities being built in the country have a significant impact on that number. The UN agencies working in Turkmenistan have an important role in the work of educating the younger generations in the country. This important information was revealed in the speeches of the participants.

A yoga master class was organized during the event. Volunteers conducted interesting quizzes on various themes.

The winners of the contests were awarded at the end of the meeting. The event was held at a high level and was of great importance in educating the youth.

Rahat SAMATOV,

Deputy Head at the Physical Culture and Mass Sports Department,

the State Committee on Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan,

Head at the First Trade Union of the Committee.