[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 87 (Monday, May 6, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19689-19690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09316]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 87 / Monday, May 6, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 19689]]


                Proclamation 9870 of April 30, 2019

                
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                National Physical Fitness and Sports Month highlights 
                the important role of physical fitness and sports in 
                uniting us as Americans and enabling us to live more 
                active and healthy lives. The countless benefits of 
                routine exercise and participation in sports extend 
                beyond physical health and help improve overall mental 
                health, teach valuable life skills, and build 
                camaraderie and friendship.

                Each day across our country, thousands of coaches, 
                parents, and teachers work to break down barriers to 
                youth participation in sports to help young people 
                improve their lives and empower them to reach their 
                full potential. Sports and physical activity help 
                children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory 
                fitness, build strong bones and muscles, lower the 
                likelihood of obesity, reduce symptoms of anxiety and 
                depression, and reduce the risk of developing chronic 
                health conditions. In addition, organized sports help 
                our youth discover the importance of teamwork, social 
                skills, hard work, determination, and the ability to 
                overcome adversity. Students who participate in sports 
                have up to 40 percent higher test scores and are 15 
                percent more likely to attend college.

                Unfortunately, despite the numerous benefits, youth 
                sports participation has been decreasing. In 2016, only 
                37 percent of youth played team sports on a regular 
                basis, down from 45 percent 11 years ago. This decline 
                is even more apparent among students from low-income 
                families.

                To address this issue, I have directed the President's 
                Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (the Council) 
                to work with the White House and the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a national 
                strategy to increase youth sports participation. 
                Through this strategy, we are increasing awareness of 
                the benefits of participation in sports and regular 
                physical activity and of the importance of good 
                nutrition. We are also working to recruit people 
                devoted to encouraging and supporting youth 
                participation in sports and regular physical activity 
                through coaching, mentoring, teaching, and offering 
                athletic and nutritional programs.

                The strategy includes a focus on accessible, inclusive 
                physical activity for Americans of all abilities. 
                Girls, youth with disabilities, and those from 
                economically distressed areas have lower rates of 
                regular physical activity and face significant barriers 
                in their pursuit of sports participation compared to 
                their peers. Both the Council's Presidential Active 
                Lifestyle Award and the HHS I Can Do It! (ICDI) program 
                model will support the need for increased access to 
                inclusive program models for American youth of all 
                backgrounds and abilities. When children of all 
                abilities play, practice, and compete together, we can 
                build a more inclusive Nation.

                This month, we celebrate and promote the countless 
                benefits of both competitive and recreational sports, 
                including better health, the opportunity to forge 
                lifelong friendships, and the satisfaction of leaving 
                it all on the field. Most importantly, we want our 
                youth to learn the valuable lessons sports teach in 
                order to create opportunities in the future for 
                themselves, their families, and their communities.

[[Page 19690]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 2019 as National 
                Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the 
                people of the United States to make physical activity 
                and sports participation a priority in their lives.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2019-09316
Filed 5-3-19; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P