British Embassy participates in Tashkent cycling marathon
British Embassy represented in the cycling marathon organised by the OSCE and Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan in Tashkent
Tashkent Cycling Marathon
On Sunday 15 September the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan hosted a bicycle marathon with the aim of highlighting sustainable development through more environmentally friendly transport. The event also helped to promote the benefits of cycling, a cleaner environment and to raise awareness for the development of cycling infrastructure in Uzbekistan.
Mr Asif Choudhury, the Head of the Political and Public Diplomacy Section at the British Embassy participated in this cycling marathon which started at Bunyodkor Metro Station and finished next to the Turkiston Palace of Arts. Around seventy people took part in the bike ride including members of the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, members of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan, representatives of diplomatic missions, celebrities and journalists. After the marathon all participants and guests attended an open air concert at the Turkiston Palace of Arts where the head of the OSCE, Ambassador Szabó and Parliament Deputy Speaker Boriy Alikhanov announced that they were donating bicycles to five orphanages in Tashkent.
Cycling is becoming more popular in Uzbekistan with more people choosing this eco-friendly and healthy mode of transport.The UK government is also working at home and abroad to help address the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by investing in low-carbon energy sources, improving fuel standards in cars and promoting cycling through many channels including for example, http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/