Most of us in the U.S. probably don't pay much attention to Tajikistan, but the central Asian nation, which borders Afghanistan and China, is strategically crucial. Fortunately, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan understands the importance of the U.S.-Tajik relationship and has a brilliant new strategy to strengthen our cultural bonds: Body building competitions. The U.S. Embassy sends out this press release announcing a sponsored walk-off on Sunday:

Yesterday the Chief of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan, Anne Carson, President of the Bodybuilding and Fitness federation of Tajikistan, Toleh Kholnazarov, and Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism, Maliksho Nematov awarded prizes to the winners of the body building championship dedicated to drug demand reduction and promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people in Tajikistan.  The championship was conducted by the Body Building and Fitness Federation of Tajikistan and sponsored by the Drug Demand Reduction Project of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section of the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. 

The U.S. Embassy reports 60 contestants from around Tajikistan, of which 21 were awarded prizes.

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