OSCE supports Uzbekistan in fostering sustainable green development
On 30 May 2022, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co-operation with the Ministry of Preschool Education, the Ministry of Sports Development and the Cycling Federation organized a cycling marathon in Samarkand to promote sustainable green development and improve environmental awareness.
The initiative aimed to develop sustainable skills in the field of environmental conservation and to raise awareness for the use of green transportation. The marathon also served to popularize cycling, promote a healthy lifestyle among preschool children, and contribute to promoting the green economy principles.
Ecological education and the introduction of youth to sports are vital issues for the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The OSCE supports initiatives to promote sustainable green development, improve environmental awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Following a similar event held last year in Tashkent, this marathon was the second of its kind and was organized within the framework of PCUz’s programme on environmental security.
In 2021, the OSCE in close co-operation with national partners launched a project to introduce environmental education into the system of preschool education and the method of riding balance bikes. Within this project, 13 pilot state preschool educational organizations were provided with 400 balance bikes.
The first children's cycling marathon took place on 1 June 2021 in Tashkent in the Ecopark, where 65 children, teachers, and cycling athletes took part. In 2022, within the framework of the project, 20 state preschool educational organizations were selected and provided with 500 balance bikes.
This initiative was attended by high-level officials, including Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva, Minister of Sports Development Adkham Ikramov, the Minister of Preschool Education Agrippina Shin, Head of the Main Department for the Formation and Conduct of Policies in the Sphere of Preschool Education of the Ministry of Preschool Education Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, and Governor of the Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov.