The youth of America is part of an alarming arc of obesity. In the last 30 years, overweight and obesity levels in school-aged children have more than doubled. Obesity at such a young age can influence a child for the remainder of his or her life, and not just socially. While we all knew that the chubby kids in school were the ones that got made fun of, the last few years have yielded alarming information about the kind of physical trouble those same chubby kids are in. Today’s obese youth is at risk of heart disease, Type II diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes), and premature death, to name only a few hazards.
There has been a pile-up of this information in the last few years, and it has lead Nike, a leading manufacturer of workout clothes and equipment, to develop and fund the "Let Me Play" program. "Let Me Play" is a multi-year, nation-wide program that encourages young people to improve themselves and their communities through sport and active play. The overall intention of the program is, as Nike General Manager Sarah O’Hagan says, "to unleash human potential through sport."
The "Let Me Play" program was kick-started on July 11th, 2007, in Los Angeles with an event which announced Nike’s intention to refurbish and/or build the first 2 of 84 playgrounds throughout the greater Los Angeles area. These first 2 play areas will be constructed with the use of Nike Grind, a substance made from recycled athletic shoes. The launch event featured Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Paul Rodriguez Jr. and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who all spoke of their childhood experiences outdoors and played with the 350 local youth who attended.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, speaking from his experiences growing up with Los Angeles’ desperate need for safe play spaces, acknowledged that "Greatness can be measured in how a civilization values its children," and said, "We know that recreation and play are important elements in childhood; my thanks to our community partners and especially Nike for making ‘Let Me Play LA’ a reality for our city."
Other local community leaders who were in attendance at the launch event were LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Operations for the City of Los Angeles Mark Mariscal, and Vice President of Grants and Programs of the LA84 Foundation Patrick Escobar.
In addition to the health benefits that Nike’s "Let Me Play" program will afford the youth that uses it, studies show that children and young adults who play sports build self-esteem and skills in leadership, teamwork, and social areas of their lives, as well as develop enhanced concentration and self-discipline.
Nike chose to commit to 84 playgrounds in Los Angeles to honor the iconic 1984 Olympic Games, which were hosted in Los Angeles. By building safe and fun places for young people to play and exercise, Nike plans to encourage a generation of Olympic athletes who have not yet been given the space to train.
