White House Announces Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport

[Howard Brodwin]

In the midst of dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the threat of a nuclear-ready North Korea, and election protests in Iran, the Obama administration did find time to take a great step forward to encourage youth participation in sports.

On 6/16, the White House issued a press release announcing a new Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport, which will "encourage increased youth participation in athletics" and "enhance awareness of the Olympic Movement through promotion of its fundamental principles at the federal level."

While some in the media have taken shots that this is merely Obama's play to help support his hometown of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, what's more important is there might finally be some structure and commitment to get this country's children active again, which helps reduce illness and could save billions in healthcare costs. You can spin this announcement any way you'd like, but I'm looking at the positives of getting kids involved in sports, at any level.

[Stanescu Simona]

This is a wonderful news. I would be delighted if our president would find some time to focus on the importance of sports is peoples life - mostly in kids life.