DUSHANBE, May 22, Asia-Plus - On Saturday May 20, Tajikistan marked a National Running Day.

President Emomali Rahmonov with his son and grandchildren also took part in a three-kilometer race (from the Dusti Square to the Opera ad Ballet Theatre and back) alongside other participants.  

Before the start, Emomali Rahmonov speaking to journalists pointed to the necessity of developing sports and propagating healthy lifestyle in the country.  

This year, Tajikistan has marked the National Running Day for the eleventh time.  The event was dedicated to the 15 ^th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence, a Year of Aryan Civilization, and the 2700 ^th anniversary of the establishment of the city of Kulob, and it was held under the motto of “Healthy Lifestyle”.  

The race participants in Dushanbe included veterans of Tajik sports, students from higher educational institutions, vocational-technical schools, and secondary schools as well as representatives from diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Tajikistan.  People aged 15 to 78 took part in three distances: 3 kilometers; 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers. 

All in all throughout Tajikistan, more than 100,000 people took part in the events dedicated to the National Running Day.  Last year, for example, 69,000 people took part in the events to mark the National Running Day.