Legendary Olympians Team Up With Boys & Girls Club Of America To Help Kids Stay Active And Live Healthy

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Jul 13, 2012, 09:00 ET

Dominique Dawes, Evander Holyfield, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Gail Devers Help Atlanta Youth Get into Olympic Spirit at Triple Play Summer Games

ATLANTA, July 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Let the games begin! Less than two weeks before the 2012 Summer Olympic Games kick-off, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is teaming up with four medal-winning U.S. Olympians for the Triple Play "Summer Games" to reinforce the spirit of the Olympic Movement, and motivate youth to get active and live healthy through physical activity.

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With the help of U.S. Olympic legends: Dominique Dawes, four-time Olympic Medalist (Gymnastics); Evander Holyfield, Olympic Medalist and four–time heavyweight champion (Boxing); Jackie Joyner-Kersee, three-time Olympic Medalist (Track & Field); and Gail Devers, three-time Olympic Medalist (Track & Field), more than 200 youth will receive firsthand coaching and interactive lessons designed to help them understand how sports and physical fitness can enhance their mind, body and soul.

As part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Triple Play program, sponsored by Coca-Cola and the WellPoint Foundation, the Summer Games event will engage youth in activities inspired by four of the most popular Olympic sports—gymnastics, boxing, basketball and track and field.

"One-third of U.S. children and teens are obese or overweight, so events like this one are extremely important for stressing that physical activity is both essential and fun," said Dominique Dawes, Olympic Gold Medalist and co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. "I am honored to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America's efforts, the Triple Play program, and to help these kids get excited about the Olympics. Who knows, we may end up discovering the next great Olympian hopeful here at the Triple Play Summer Games."

Recent statistics show that one-third of U.S. children and teens are obese or overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that's more than three times the number of obese and overweight children just a generation ago.

"As families, and as a nation, we need to come together to solve this growing epidemic," said Lance Chrisman, WellPoint Foundation Director. "That's why we continue to work with the Boys & Girls Club and with kids across the country – to help them develop the healthy habits that lead to a productive and fulfilling life."

"We recognize that regular physical activity and nutrition awareness have numerous health benefits beyond helping with energy balance," said Quinton Martin, Coca-Cola Community Marketing Vice President. "Our national commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America through the Triple Play program helps youth across the country live active, healthy lives."

The games will take place in Atlanta's 189-acre Piedmont Park. Each training station will be directed by one celebrity Olympian leading lessons and physical activities which are part of the Triple Play program. More than 200 kids, age 6-18, from the Atlanta area will receive a healthy lunch, t-shirt, wrist bands, "gold" medals and tips for physical activity and healthy decision making.

"We are thankful for the support of these incredible athletes and our generous partners who help make this event possible," said Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Programs such as Triple Play are essential for educating youth on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle through physical activity, engaging in social interactions with their peers, and making healthy decisions when it's time to eat.

Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul

Triple Play is Boys & Girls Clubs of America signature health and wellness program. Supported by founding sponsor Coca-Cola and the WellPoint Foundation, the program encourages kids ages 6-18 to eat a balanced diet (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, nearly 4,000 Clubs serve some 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebookand http://bgca.org/twitter.

About Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

About the WellPoint Foundation
The WellPoint Foundation is the philanthropic arm of WellPoint, Inc. and through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes the inherent commitment of WellPoint, Inc. to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that WellPoint, Inc. and its affiliated health plans serve. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's annual associate giving campaign and provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges. To learn more about the WellPoint Foundation, please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America