DUSHANBE, May 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A Week of Youth was launched in Tajikistan on May 17.  The event is dedicated to a Tajik Youth Day, which is marked in the country on May 23.

A National Race Day opened the Week.  The race started simultaneously in all cities and district centers across the country.  In Dushanbe, sports veterans, disabled people, students, entrepreneurs as well as representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations active in the country took part in the race.  According to Shakvkat Saidov, a spokesman for Dushanbe mayor, some 190,000 people in all regions of the country took part in the race this year.  The National Race Day has been held in Tajikistan since 1996.

A number of cultural and sports activities have been organized within the framework of the Youth Week.  An anti-drug action, Dushanbe Youth against Narcotics and Spread of AIDS/HIV, will be held in the Tajik capital, the spokesman said.

The Day of Tajik Youth has been marked since 1998.