[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9427 of April 27, 2016

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For generations, sports have brought Americans of all ages together and
helped us celebrate our country's competitive spirit. When we work to
instill an appreciation for physical fitness in our people, we do more
than honor an age-old tradition--we take a critical step toward ensuring
the prospect of a long and healthy life. During National Physical
Fitness and Sports Month, we highlight the importance of staying active,
and we encourage all Americans to partake in physical activity to
maintain their health and well-being.

Sports and other forms of physical activity inspire us--they bridge
differences, unite Americans from every walk of life, and teach the
importance of teamwork. Whether exploring the great outdoors or shooting
hoops with friends, regular physical activity can also relieve stress,
boost energy and self-esteem, and prevent numerous chronic diseases,
including some of the leading causes of death, such as cancer, stroke,
and heart disease. Children should engage in physical activity for at
least 1 hour each day, and adults should do so for at least 30 minutes.
Critical to enabling our youth to reach their fullest potential, regular
exercise must go hand-in-hand with healthy eating and proper nutrition--
because our children's well-being tomorrow depends on what they eat
today.
This year, we celebrate six decades since President Dwight Eisenhower
established the President's Council on Youth Fitness, known today as the
President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. The Council
partners with the public, private, and non-profit sectors to empower
people to lead healthy and active lives. Through their I Can Do It, You
Can Do It! program, the Council facilitates physical activity for
individuals with disabilities and offers opportunities for regular
exercise at sites across our country. My Administration's Go4Life
campaign is motivating older Americans to recommit to making exercise a
part of their daily lives. And First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move!
initiative continues to inspire a rising generation to eat healthily and
get plenty of physical activity so they can grow up strong and pursue
their dreams. For more information on my Administration's actions to
promote sports and physical fitness--and for ways you can get involved--
visit www.Fitness.gov and www.LetsMove.gov.
Participation in sports and other physical activity represents our
country's promise: the idea that if you work hard, commit to a goal, and
never give up on yourself, there is nothing you cannot achieve. This
month, let us each strive to make fitness a greater part of our lives,
and let us join together as one American team to promote physical
activity and chart a healthier, fitter future for our country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 2016 as National
Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to make daily physical activity, sports participation, and good
nutrition a priority in their lives.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA