Background

The United States is one of the most unfit countries in the world. Obesity has indirectly led to a national epidemic of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and other health problems. Healthcare costs commensurately are skyrocketing. Physical education has been dropped from nearly all primary and secondary schools throughout the country.

The United States Olympians and Paralympians Association (USOPA) has begun utilizing the Olympians and Paralympians to promote fitness and the Olympic ideals. Given their exemplary role model for fitness, Olympians and Paralympians are the perfect group to encourage our children to embrace a lifetime of fitness.

Solution

World Fit attacks the issue of obesity starting with the younger members of our society. All of the approximately 7,000 Olympians and Paralympians across the country will be recruited to adopt a school and speak annually to its students about the importance of physical fitness activities and a healthier lifestyle. They will encourage the students to participate in the World Fit Walk each spring when students, teachers and families walk daily for six weeks. Olympians and Paralympians also encourage students to recruit their teachers, parents and siblings to engage in more physical activity. We believe children can be influential in their parents’ lifestyle choices. If this program reaches its potential size in the United States, between ten and fifteen million young Americans will be touched with a personal inspirational message from an Olympian or Paralympian each year. Our hope is that the six-week World Fit Walk will promote a continuing commitment to physical activity

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