Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition Restored, alongside the Resurrection of the Presidential Physical Fitness Exam
Over the next few years, America is set to take centre stage in the world of sports. The Ryder Cup, the President's Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Olympic Games will all be hosted on American soil, showcasing the country's continued global dominance in sports [1].
This sports-focused period coincides with a renewed emphasis on physical fitness and health under President Donald Trump. In 2018, the President's Council on Youth Fitness was revitalised and renamed to the "President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition" [2]. An executive order reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test and expanded the Council's role to promote youth participation in sports, improve national health, and address rising rates of obesity and inactivity [1].
The revitalised Council aims to combat childhood obesity and inactivity, enhance military readiness, and encourage a new generation of healthy, active Americans through "bold and innovative fitness goals" [1][2]. The reboot of the Presidential Fitness Test involves a return to a fitness assessment similar to that used historically in American public schools, measuring physical abilities such as pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups [1][3].
Federal agencies, primarily the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education, have been directed to support nationwide engagement by developing school-based fitness programmes, setting national youth fitness goals, and launching public campaigns to foster a culture of physical excellence across society [1].
The initiative will culminate in 2026, when America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding and honours the 70th anniversary of the original President's Council on Youth Fitness. This anniversary will serve as a testament to the ongoing commitment to promoting physical health and fitness among the nation's youth [1].
The Trump Administration's sports and health initiatives began in earnest in 2019 with the launch of the National Youth Sports Strategy [2]. These efforts underscore the Administration's commitment to fostering a culture of physical fitness and sports participation in America, ensuring a healthier and more active nation for years to come. [1][2]
References:
[1] White House. (2018, February 13). President Trump's Executive Order on Promoting Health and Fitness among Children. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-promoting-health-fitness-among-children/
[2] White House. (2019, February 26). President Trump Announces National Youth Sports Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-trump-announces-national-youth-sports-strategy/
[3] White House. (2018, August 31). President Trump Revitalizes and Renames the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-trump-revitalizes-renames-presidents-council-sports-fitness-nutrition/
- The revitalized President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, under President Donald Trump, aims to combat childhood obesity and inactivity, promote youth participation in sports, and improve national health through "bold and innovative fitness goals."
- The Obama-era President's Council on Youth Fitness was renamed and revitalized in 2018, expanding its role to address rising rates of obesity and inactivity, enhancing military readiness, and cultivating a culture of physical excellence across society.
- The Trump Administration's sports and health initiatives, which include the National Youth Sports Strategy, strive to foster a culture of physical fitness, sports participation, and healthy lifestyles in America for years to come.
- The Presidential Fitness Test, reestablished under the Trump Administration, involves a return to a fitness assessment similar to that used historically in American public schools, measuring physical abilities like pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups.
- The Trump Administration's emphasis on sports, fitness, and health coincides with a series of major sports events hosted on American soil, such as the Ryder Cup, the President's Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Olympic Games, demonstrating the country's continued global dominance in sports.
