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WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Los Angeles Sparks Join Sparking Motion Project

August 30, 2009 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES - In an effort to combat the alarming obesity rate increases over the past few decades, the Los Angeles Sparks have teamed up with Farmers Insurance, Anthem Blue Cross, the LA County Department of Public Health, the Network for a Healthy California - Los Angeles Region, the California Endowment, the CDC, and UCLA School of Public Health to create the "SPARKing Motion" project.

The partnership's main focus is to re-integrate physical activity and nutrition education into California public schools, and re-invigorate physical education, to combat childhood obesity through a unique and engaging approach.

"We must work to link physical activity with fun and play--like sports, dance and recess when we were kids in school--rather than with drudgery and obligation," said Dr. Toni Yancey, UCLA Professor and Co-Director of its Center for Health Equity. "Unfortunately, many children have few opportunities for activity during the school day because of funding cuts and policy directives prioritizing standardized testing. And adults must be included because they make the decisions and policies."

SPARKing Motion will support schools with limited physical education/nutrition education resources by creating an interactive DVD that will influence the school environment in a way that students find easy and fun. The project will seek to create social norms of regular physical activity engagement and healthier eating habits within the school system that will carry over into students' lives away from school. A preview of the DVD will be played in conjunction with the Sparks "Health and Wellness Night" on August 30 when the Sparks take on the Connecticut Sun at STAPLES Center at 6:30pm. The SPARKing Motion project will be officially introduced to the general public by in-game demonstrations of the moves on-court by the Ole Skool Crew, SPARKids, Sparky and other members of the community.

"The average American adult gets only 6-10 minutes of at least moderate intensity activity daily, and 40% of LA County residents get less than 10 minutes per week of continuous activity," said Yancey. "That's why the Sparks' willingness to leverage their visibility and brand in partnering with us is so important. SPARKing Motion may help to establish new social and cultural norms of routine physical activity, and make long periods of sitting as socially unacceptable as smoking-for kids and adults. We hope that this collaboration will become a national model."

The DVD will feature moves performed by Los Angeles Sparks players, members of the Ole Skool Crew, SparKids and Sparky the mascot. This fast-paced, highly motivational 11- to 14-minute program will deliver fitness and good food messages in a fun and informative way that invites participation from a target audience of young people aged 9-14.

"We are proud to join forces with California-based companies and organizations to be leaders in creating solutions for the childhood obesity epidemic," Sparks President Kristin Bernert said. "While our players represent the apex of physical fitness, five of them are moms and all of them understand the importance of learning good habits at a young age."

Sparks players will perform their signature moves during the Instant Recess portion of the DVD. Moves include the "Thompson Tip-Off," the "Ferdinand-Harris Fakeout," and the "Parker Power Jam."

Through the partnership with the Network for a Healthy California - Los Angeles Region, children county-wide will benefit from the Sparks' commitment to combat childhood obesity. The project will target local school districts including Los Angeles Unified School District, after-school programs, community-based organizations, and local public parks/recreation districts. If disseminated throughout the Network statewide, SPARKing Motion materials have the potential to influence 230,000 students through 2,200 schools.

For more information on the Los Angeles Sparks or their involvement in the SPARKing Motion project, please visit www.lasparks.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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