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Dallas • Backed by a stage full of aspiring Olympians, first lady Michelle Obama announced a series of partnerships Monday at the U.S. Olympic Committee's media summit, aimed at getting more than 1.7 million American children active in sports as part of her "Let's Move!" health campaign to combat childhood obesity.
"It is so important, to so many of our kids," she said.
Nine of the sports federations under the U.S. Olympic Committee purview, along with the U.S. Olympians Association and U.S. Paralymics, have committed resources to helping reach children this summer.
USA Swimming, for example, will enroll 530,000 new learn-to-swim participants, while USA Cycling will provide free races, clinics and memberships at 350 BMX tracks nationwide. Field hockey, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball and basketball also will participate.
"Many of these kids will be playing some of these sports for the very first time," Obama said, "and that is so important, because sometimes ... all it takes is that first lesson or that first clinic or that first class to get a child excited about a sport."
After an introduction by swimmer Natalie Coughlin, an 11-time Olympic medalist who acknowledged her nervousness at the podium, Obama said she is "beyond proud" to be the one who will lead the presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the London Games this summer.
She also praised the Olympians behind her for inspiring generations of children.
"This summer, my hope is together with our children, we can support Team USA not just by cheering them on, but by striving to live up to the example they set," she said. —
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