Contact:
Janice Meer
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PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS
LAUNCHES NEW INTERACTIVE WEB SITE
Online Program Now Makes It Easier For Adults and Kids To Get Fit

Chairman Lynn Swann "chats" on the phone as featured guest on "Ask the White House." Click here to view the full text from this online interactive forum.

On Friday, July 18, 2003, Council Chairman Lynn Swann introduced children at the Lakewest Family YMCA in Dallas, Texas to the new President's Challenge interactive website.

Paul Carrozza, a member of the President's Council, works with a child on www.presidentschallenge.org, our new interactive website.

Council member Tedd Mitchell shows a YMCA camp participant how to use the new website while the Council's Acting Executive Director, Penny Royall (left), and a staff member of the YMCA (right) look on.

Later that day President's Council members, YMCA staff, camp participants and audience members eagerly await President Bush's arrival.

Council Chairman Lynn Swann introduces President Bush.

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports announced

www.presidentschallenge.org, a new interactive website to help all Americans build a regular physical activity routine. Chairman Lynn Swann launched the new online tool July 18, 2003, in Dallas, Texas. Swann and other members of the Council demonstrated the free, easy-to-use website to young Americans attending summer programs at the Lakewest Family YMCA. Shortly after the launch and demo, President George W. Bush arrived by helicopter and toured the facility before addressing the young people and invited guests.

The new website tracks progress towards earning Presidential awards for active lifestyles and physical fitness. Here's how it works: log on to www.presidentschallenge.org, select an age category - Kids, Teens, Adults or Seniors--and register free of charge as an individual or part of a group. Choose from over 100 physical activities and start tracking daily efforts in a personal log.

To begin an activity program, participants of all ages can work toward a Presidential Active Lifestyle award for regular activity five days a week for six weeks, adults for at least 30 minutes of daily activity, children for at least 60 minutes a day. Americans who are already active can maintain and improve their activity and fitness levels by earning a new award, the Presidential Champions. Participants sign up individually or as a group with friends, family and/or co-workers. Points are earned by logging in each activity. Participants can work toward a Bronze Award for 20,000 points, a Silver Award for 45,000 points and a Gold award for 80,000 points.

Use of the website is free. The only cost is for the array of optional awards available, including certificates, patches, lapel pins, ribbons, and medals. If a person stays on the site more than a few minutes, a message appears to remind the user log off and start moving.

The new online tool is the Council's response to recent studies showing that seven out of ten American adults are not regularly active, 25 percent are never active, and children are not getting the physical activity they need to be healthy.

Last summer (June 20, 2002), President Bush appointed Swann, a sports broadcaster, former Pittsburgh Steeler and NFL Hall of Fame member, to lead the 20-member Council. "We are making this powerful new tool available to all Americans," Swann said. "It can help people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities be healthy, active and fit for the rest of their lives. The interactive Web site is for families, schools, businesses, organizations and individuals who want to be active or motivate others to become physically active for health or attain the highest possible fitness level."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical inactivity contributes to obesity, one of the most serious chronic health conditions threatening the nation today. "I congratulate the members of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for their quick response to the President's call for Americans to be physically active every day," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Currently 64 percent of the adult population - or 123 million people - are either overweight or obese. The rate has doubled in children and tripled in adolescents since 1980. About 15% of children and teens are overweight. The problem of overweight/obesity in America costs $117 billion annually and accounts for at least 14 percent of deaths in the US, or some 300,000 premature deaths each year. President Bush and Secretary Thompson initiated the HealthierUS and Steps to a HealthierUS programs to urge Americans to make simple changes in behavior to improve health and stress preventive health care.

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