Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 1.djvu/41

 PUBLIC LAW 100-243—FEB. 9, 1988

102 STAT. 3

Public Law 100-243 100th Congress Joint Resolution To designate February 4, 1988, as "National Women in Sports Day".

Whereas women's athletics is one of the most effective avenues available through which women of America may develop selfdiscipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills; Whereas support and fitness activity contributes to emotional and physical well-being and women need strong bodies as well as strong minds; Whereas the history of women in sports is rich and long, but there has been little national recognition of the significance of women's athletic achievements; Whereas the number of women in leadership positions of coaches, officials, and administrators has declined drastically over the last decade and there is a need to restore women to these positions to ensure a fair representation of women's abilities and to provide role models for young female athletes; Whereas the bonds built between women through athletics help to break down the social barriers of racism and prejudice; Whereas the communication and cooperation skills learned through athletic experience play a key role in the athlete's contributions at home, at work, and to society; Whereas women's athletics has produced such winners as Flo Hyman, whose spirit, talent, and accomplishments distinguished her above others and exhibited for all of us the true meaning of fairness, determination, and team play; Whereas early motor-skill training and enjoyable experiences of physical activity strongly influence life-long habits of physical fitness; Whereas the athletic opportunities for male students at the collegiate and high school level remain significantly greater than those for female students; and Whereas the number of funded research projects focusing on the specific needs of women athletes is limited and the information provided by these projects is imperative to the health and performance of future women athletes: Now, therefore, be it

Feb. 9, 1988 [S.J. Res. 196]

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