The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) is an advisory council, part of the Executive Office of the President, that promotes and encourages the development of physical fitness and sports programs in American life. The PCPFS was created by executive order by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 and was first chaired by Vice President Richard Nixon.
The PCPFS encourages schools, business and industry, government, recreation agencies, and sports organizations to increase support for activities that promote physical fitness. It has established local Councils on Physical Fitness and Sports; a Presidential Sports Award Program to encourage fitness through regular participation in sports; the Healthy American Fitness Leader Awards, in cooperation with private industry; and the President's Challenge, a physical fitness awards program for children in the fourth through sixth grades. Each year the PCPFS recognizes outstanding school physical fitness programs in each state with special awards. Selected schools serve as demonstration sites for teacher education programs and foreign visitors. By Presidential proclamation, each May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and the council prepares radio and television announcements and public service information on physical fitness during that month. It also sponsors an annual “running and fitness week” in cooperation with the American Running and Fitness Association. The PCPFS has also sponsored programs for the estimated one in six children who are “physically underdeveloped.” It encourages schools to identify these children and establish programs designed specifically to improve their physical fitness and sports performance.
Twenty private citizens serve on the council. Members have included such sports celebrities as bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, basketball star Earvin (“Magic”) Johnson, Olympic gold medal runner Jackie Joyne-Kersee, and tennis stars Chris Evert and Pam Shriver. They are appointed by the President and report to the President and the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A full-time staff of eight carries out the programs of the council.
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
| US Government Guide: President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports |
| Wikipedia: President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports |
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sports". It is part of the Office of Public Health and Science, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
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History
- The President's Council on Youth Fitness was founded on 16 July 1956 to encourage American children to be healthy and active children, after a study indicating that American youths are less physically fit than European children, by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- In 1961, Kennedy discussed physical fitness with Wilma Rudolph.
- In 1963, President John F. Kennedy then changed its title to President's Council on Physical Fitness to reflect its role to serve all Americans.
- In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, name of which was later changed to President's Challenge Youth Physical Fitness Awards Program. In 1968, its title was changed to President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to emphasize the importance of sports in life.
- In 1972, the Presidential Sports Award Program was created.
- In 1983, the United States Congress declared May "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month".
- In 1996, the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health was released. In 1997, the PCPFS released its report on Physical Activity and Sport in the Lives of Boys.
Awards
The Council publishes guidelines for awards that are given out. They are the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, the National Physical Fitness Award, and the Participant Physical Fitness Award.[1] Additionally, there is the Health Fitness Test as an alternative,[2] the Active Lifestyle Award for staying active,[3] and the Presidential Champions Awards for raising their amount of activity.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Physical Fitness Awards
- ^ Health Fitness Test
- ^ Active Lifestyle Award
- ^ Presidential Champions Award
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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