WPS Joins White House Initiative To Address Childhood Obesity
Published on February 9, 2010 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 9, 2010) - Women's Professional Soccer was represented today in Washington D.C. by Washington Freedom Goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who took part in the kick-off ceremony for the First Lady Michelle Obama's formal unveiling of a nationwide campaign to address the serious epidemic of childhood obesity. For the first time ever, the First Lady will set a national goal of solving the obesity challenge within a generation so that America's youngest children reach adulthood at a healthy weight.
WPS, as a professional sports league that both promotes and represents healthy, fitness-minded living, has joined in this campaign with a commitment towards the goal of eliminating childhood obesity in a generation and getting more kids active, playing or moving at least one hour every day. With eight teams in the U.S., WPS fans spread across the country, and WPS Camps taking place in over a dozen cities, Women's Professional Soccer has committed to work together with the First Lady and the White House to increase existing programs and creatively develop new ideas and platforms to address this issue.
"We are pleased to be part of this nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity that the First Lady has unveiled," said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. "WPS is uniquely positioned as a sports league of role models and the world's best soccer players, who can inspire, mobilize and teach kids about the benefits of being active, eating better and embracing healthier lifestyles."
"I'm really proud to represent WPS today as the First Lady unveils her nationwide challenge to tackle the issue of childhood obesity," said Briana Scurry. "All of us in the league had the opportunity to play soccer throughout our childhoods to help us stay active and healthy. We hope we can introduce more children to the same opportunities we had and the benefits of sport and healthy living that went with it."
WPS expects to have more announcements about its support of the White House initiative and programs to help fight childhood obesity closer to the 2010 season.
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