First Lady Michelle Obama, partners with Olympic committee to get children active

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Michelle Obama at a news conference in Dallas with athletes at the 2012 Team USA Media Summit


DALLAS -- Michelle Obama remembers sitting in front of her television many years ago and watching Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci and Carl Lewis as they competed in the Summer Olympics.

"Like so many others," she said, "I was awed and inspired by (watching Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci and Carl Lewis as they competed in the Summer Olympics)."

"When we first met with these organizations, we challenged them to commit to helping 1 million kids get active in their communities. That was our first target, and we thought that was ambitious," said Mrs. Obama, who will also be leading the U.S. delegation to the London Games.

"I am beyond proud to be leading the U.S. delegation," Mrs. Obama said. "When I'm sitting in that stadium in London, cheering on Team USA, I'll be thinking about all those young people cheering at home. I'll be thinking about the power of the games to truly inspire a generation, and I'll be thinking about how our Olympic and Paralympic athletes can serve as role models for our young people, as examples of the values we want our kids to learn."

read: http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/7930253/first-lady-michelle-obama-usoc-partner-get-children-active




Mrs. Obama spoke about how world-class athletes serve as role models and cited nine-time medal-winning Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long and 2012 Olympic hopeful John Orozco, a gymnast who grew up in the Bronx, as being particularly inspiring.

“As a child, Jessica watched other kids walking up and down the hill in her neighborhood park, and she spent an entire day practicing on her prosthetic legs falling down over and over again until she could climb that hill too,” said Mrs. Obama.

She credited Long with her perseverance and for encouraging others to not give up.

“(Jessica’s) advice to others about how to succeed is very simple,” said Mrs. Obama. “She says you have to practice. You will have days when you hate it and days when you love it, but you have to stick with it.”

read: http://www.teamusa.org/News/2012/May/14/Team-USA-Moves-like-Michelle.aspx




"This summer, my hope is that 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 have set," said Obama, flanked by athletes expected to challenge for medals in London.

"When I'm sitting in that stadium in London cheering on Team USA, I'll be thinking about all those young people cheering them on at home," said Obama.

"I'll be thinking of the power of the Games to truly inspire a generation and how our Olympic and Paralympic athletes can serve as role models."

“In the end some of these athletes again will bring home the gold,” Mrs. Obama said. “But let me tell you something, all of them will make our country proud. They’re already doing it. And all of them will inspire a generation of young people to get active, to strive for excellence and to pursue whatever dreams they may hold in their hearts.”

read: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-olympics-us-obama-idUSBRE84D1AJ20120514

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. K&R

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2. kick

[ananda]

3. Like it.

Liked JFK's physical fitness program too.