Commencing October 16, 2014, Australian health and fitness identities Paul and Jacqui Brown will take their 9-year-old son Ben on a global mission to promote sports and healthy lifestyles to kids and their grown-ups everywhere.
Their mission is to experience 50 Sports in 50 Weeks, visiting 50 of the most iconic locations around the globe and learning about each sport from 50 of the greatest athletes, champion teams, sporting legends and role models they can find. (Mentors).
Each champion mentor or team will take the Brown’s through an introduction to their sport with a training session or two so they can understand the fundamentals. Wherever possible they’ll also experience the sport at a more competitive or elite level as a spectator, cheering on their heroes at major events.
Along the way they’ll visit schools, sports and health clubs with “Get it Right” talks to kids and their grown-ups, inspiring families to make sports and activity a regular part of life, along with healthy eating tips and playful games so these lessons can last a lifetime. Our Athletes, teams and mentors are invited to join in whenever they can.
Such a unique and exciting project will create quite a buzz and we will harness the power of conventional and social media to help spread the word and increase the reach and effectiveness of our feel-good message to all corners of the globe.
We can’t sit this one out!
- Kids participation in sports and activity is on a sharp decline as technology takes over.
- Fast and convenience foods are the staple diet
- Childhood obesity has doubled in the past 10 years and will double again in the next 7.
- The overweight and obese now represent 66% of the adult population.
- Sports have had a bad rap lately, with some very famous role models falling from grace. Something has to change to gain back the respect so many hard working athletes deserve.
It’s a growing problem
- Globally, one in three adults is not active enough.
- Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death worldwide.
- Approximately 3.2 million people die each year due to physical inactivity.
- Physical inactivity is the main cause for approx.
- 21–25% of breast and colon cancers
- 27% of diabetes
- 30% of ischaemic heart disease.
- Less than half of Australian children meet the National Physical Activity guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate activity per day.+
+Source: Australian Government, Department of Health: Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Children (5-12 years).
Family Fit Events
There’s a time for talk and a time for action, so at many of our events we’ll get the whole family out of their seats and into some energetic sports, fun activities and enjoyable fitness drills. These often will include the very sport we are in town to experience and occasionally include special appearances by our VIP athletes and sports mentors. The best thing about Family Fit Events is what the name suggests, it’s for the entire family and kids just love it when the grown- ups have a go and get involved. Count the smiles! Hear the laughter. Remember the family that plays together, stays together.
Shaping thousands of lives
Throughout the 50 Weeks, Paul Brown (Australian Fitness Network’s 2014 Presenter of the Year) will deliver “Get it Right” seminars at local schools, health clubs and sports clubs. In these sessions you’ll learn:
- How to pick “your” sport
- How to get active as a family
- How to make smart food choices
- And you’ll have heaps of fun!
Meet Our Mascots
Leapin’ Lizard
- Loves to be active
- Says ‘yes’ to sports
- Eats fresh, healthy foods
- Prefers to drink water
- Full of energy
Lazy Lizard
- Won’t try sports
- Eats junk food
- Drinks sodas
- Always tired
To find out more, or to become involved yourself, email info@50sports.org and say “I’m on board!”. Go on, do it now! We look forward to hearing from you!