DUSHANBE, April 27, 2010, Asia-Plus — The International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) section of U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe sponsored a one-day seminar focused on how sports journalism can discourage drug use and trafficking, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
The Association of Sports Journalists of Tajikistan, in conjunction with the Tajik Judo Federation, conducted a seminar, titled “Sports against Narcotics and Drug Trafficking,” on April 24. During the seminar, twenty sports journalists from print, television, radio and other media agencies discussed ways to report on the relationship between sports and healthy life styles.
The seminar will be followed by a two-day judo competition, which takes place between April 30th and May 2nd, at the Tennis Sports Center in Dushanbe. The event will include anti-drug messages aimed at young athletes and their fans. Young people who might be considering drug use are the target audience.
After the judo competition, competitors and coaches will return to their home towns and talk to young people about their sports achievements and the dangers of drugs, and will stress the incompatibility of reaching your dreams while using drugs. The participants from Dushanbe, Khorog, Qurghon Teppa, Kulob and Khujand will lead discussions about the dangers of drug use at the U.S. Embassy’s American Corners in those cities.
The United States Government is committed to continuing its support to combat drug trafficking efforts through drug demand reduction programs. The INL section of the U.S. Embassy has cooperated with Tajikistan”s law enforcement agencies since 1992 in implementing assistance projects totaling more than $29 million U.S. dollars to provide border security, support rule of law, and combat drug trafficking efforts.
