NFL, NBA Among 14 Leagues to Partner with Biden Admin to Promote Activity, Nutrition

The NFL and NBA are two of 14 leagues and players associations partnering with the Biden administration “to boost physical activity and increase nutrition programming across the country,” according to the White House.

The MLB, NHL, WNBA, MLS, NWSL and PGA Tour are also participating in the initiative, which was announced Thursday by second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

The NFL committed to building on PLAY60, a national health campaign focused toward kids which encourages 60 minutes of active movement per day.

Meanwhile the NBA and WNBA will similarly be promoting activity to youth while “taking action to combat food insecurity,” according to the White House. These initiatives will build on on activities held at the All-Star Game on Feb. 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the administration said.

The NFL has been holding PLAY 60 events in Las Vegas ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, including an event for more than 1,600 local kids.

The NFL also on Thursday announced $3,000 in PLAY 60 grants for physical activity equipment at three schools, in partnership with the American Heart Association.

The NHL pledged to make financial commitments to programs such as the NHL and NHLPA’s Learn to Play program, which provides free equipment and instruction to first-time youth hockey players; the Hockey is for Everyone Coalition, another NHL and NHLPA collaboration seeking to promote diversity in the sport; and NHL STREET, the NHL’s official youth hockey league.

The MLB will expand its PLAY BALL program, an initiative to teach kids about baseball and softball which includes a weekly show on MLB Network. Game 2 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks in October also featured a PLAY BALL event.

The MLS committed to providing more than 2.5 million meals through programs like the food recovery programs implemented by the league in partnership with D.C. United at Audi Field.

The NWSL said the league’s players would speak at local events in order to promote activity, healthy eating and nutrition to community members.

The PGA Tour pledged to share the official physical activity and dietary guidelines developed by the federal government “with charitable beneficiaries in its host communities.”

These agreements, which the leagues signed with the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, are part of the national strategy announced by the Biden administration in September 2022 that pledged to end hunger in the United States, while increasing healthy eating and physical activity, by 2030.