[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 100 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 100

Expressing the support of the Senate for the establishment of an Urban 
 Youth Sport Initiative in partnership with the United States Olympic 
                               Committee.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 2, 2009

 Mr. Durbin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
         the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the support of the Senate for the establishment of an Urban 
 Youth Sport Initiative in partnership with the United States Olympic 
                               Committee.

Whereas participation in sports and organized physical education is essential to 
        fostering healthy attitudes and lifestyles in children;
Whereas the National Association for Sport and Physical Education reports that 
        participation among American students in physical education has declined 
        dramatically;
Whereas American children are experiencing obesity in growing numbers, and data 
        continues to highlight the link between obesity and diabetes, heart 
        disease, and other life-threatening medical conditions;
Whereas youth physical fitness through sport improves overall health, aids child 
        development, improves self-esteem, and increases academic success in the 
        classroom;
Whereas participation in adaptive sports improves self-worth, health, 
        independence, and self-esteem for youth with physical and cognitive 
        disabilities;
Whereas the rate of participation by urban youth in organized athletics is 
        approximately one-third of the rate of suburban youth, and this is 
        particularly true for young girls in urban areas;
Whereas both the world and United States populations are becoming increasingly 
        urban, and if the trend of urbanization continues, by 2030 it is 
        estimated that two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban 
        areas;
Whereas establishing sports in urban settings remains a particular challenge 
        because cities often lack the physical space needed for sports and 
        efforts are often fragmented due to communication and coordination 
        challenges;
Whereas the selection of the city of Chicago to represent the United States in 
        its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games would leave 
        a legacy of youth engagement in sports in cities across our Nation;
Whereas the city of Chicago and Chicago 2016 are committed to an initiative 
        establishing sustainable urban sport venues and connecting sport venues 
        with programs that address coaching challenges, resource issues, and the 
        difficulties of parental support to run programs;
Whereas the United States Olympic Committee and its 45 member organizations are 
        currently investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport and physical 
        activity programs for Americans in communities throughout the United 
        States; and
Whereas the creation of an Urban Youth Sport Initiative would increase 
        involvement of urban youth in sport, increase the training and 
        availability of coaches in urban areas for youth sports, and enhance the 
        ability of urban cities to administer youth sports programs: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the expansion of quality urban youth sports 
        programs to increase urban youth involvement in sport; and
            (2) supports the establishment of an Urban Youth Sport 
        Initiative in partnership with the United States Olympic 
        Committee.
                                 <all>