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The Anthem Blue Cross Live Like a Champion Tour brings interactive gamesand challenging sports-themed activities to help children bring out their"inner champion." The tour is traveling to local community and specialevents, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs and other after-school program locationsin 10 cities throughout California. Special effort is focused on reaching outto the state's underserved communities.
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According to the California Health & Human Services Agency, approximatelyone in three children in California is overweight or obese. In addition,almost 40 percent of school-aged children are physically unfit. "Encouraginghealthy eating and activity routines is a great strategy to help children stayhealthy. Research shows regular physical activity during childhood andadolescence helps build healthier bones and muscles and increasesself-esteem," said Harvinder Sareen, PhD, Director of Clinical Programs,Anthem Blue Cross.
"As the state's largest health insurance provider, Anthem Blue Crossrecognizes its responsibility to respond to the growing epidemic of childhoodobesity. We are committed to addressing the issue and empowering families andcommunities to adopt healthier lifestyles," said Leslie A. Margolin, Presidentof Anthem Blue Cross.
A select group of Governor's Council celebrity athletes lend its supportto the Live Like a Champion Tour to help raise awareness and promote physicalfitness for all Californians. They serve as role models and share theirfavorite exercises, fruits and vegetables on life-size posters throughout theevent-site. "Governor Schwarzenegger and I want to inspire young peopleacross the state to get moving and feel the benefits associated with eatingright, staying active and having fun," said Jake Steinfeld, chairman of theGovernor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. "Through innovativecampaigns like the Live Like a Champion Tour and the Governor's Challenge, wehope to encourage children to develop healthy habits now and in the future."
Event activities include:
-- Olympic Style Opening Ceremony: Children pledge to put down the remoteand get active.
-- Misty May-Treanor's Spike Like A Champion: Inspired by Olympicvolleyball champion Misty May-Treanor, children step up to the net and learnhow to spike a volleyball as another way to be active and have fun.
-- Jerry Rice's Catch Like A Champion: Inspired by Super Bowl championJerry Rice, children make the winning catch in the end zone by diving onto aninflatable mat while hearing messages encouraging 30-60 minutes of physicalactivity a day.
-- Lisa Leslie's Hoop Like A Champion: Inspired by Olympic basketballchampion Lisa Leslie, children shoot to score by attempting differentbasketball shots with various colored balls representing different healthyfoods.
-- Julie Foudy's Kick Like A Champion: Inspired by World Cup championJulie Foudy, children shoot multicolored soccer balls representing fruits andvegetables into a goal to learn the importance of a balanced diet.
-- Toss Like A Champion: Children take shots at various foods in therefrigerator and knock down the healthy snack choices, reinforcing balancednutrition.
-- Board Like A Champion: Children find out the proper way to get up on asurf/snow board and maintain balance, with the safety of an inflatable matbeneath them.
-- Closing Ceremony: Children engage in post-activ
