DUSHANBE, June 28, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- An auto race for people with physical disabilities has started on the Dousti Square (Friendship Square) in Dushanbe today.

Asadullo Zikrikhudoyev, chairman of the Dushanbe Society of People with Disabilities, Imkoniyat (Opportunity), says 25 persons with physical disabilities from all regions of the country are participating in a 1,000-kilometer race that is held under the motto of “Life Is Movement.”

Five vehicles participating in the race have the following inscription on them: “Being Integral Part of Society, People with Physical Disabilities Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence.”

The race participants will travel back to the Dousti Square in Dushanbe on July 1 through Vahdat, Norak, Danghara, Vose, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa and Sarband.

“The race dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence was arranged due to support provided by the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSC/AF-Tajikistan) and Gazpromneft-Tajikistan,” Zikrikhudoyev noted.

The Imkoniyat Society has worked in Dushanbe since 1989 and some 7,000 people with physical disabilities are now members of this organization.  According to the statistical data from Imkoniyat, some 160,000 people with physical disabilities now live in the country; some 12,000 of them live in Dushanbe.