Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 1.djvu/49

 PUBLIC LAW 102-5 —FEB. 15, 1991 105 STAT. 21 Public Law 102-5 102d Congress Joint Resolution To designate February 7, 1991, as "National Girls and Women in Sports Day". Feb. 15, 1991 [H.J. Res. 30] Whereas women's athletics is one of the most effective avenues available through which women of America may develop self- discipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills; Whereas sport 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; Whereeis 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 parents feel that sports are equally important for boys and girls and that sports and fitness activities provide important benefits to girls who participate; Whereas early motor-skill training and enjoyable experiences of physical activity strongly influence life-long habits of physical fitness; Whereas the performances of such female athletes as Jackie Joyner- Kersee, Florence Griffith Jojmer, Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, the United States Women's Basketball Team and many others in the 1988 Olympic Games were a source of inspiration and pride so to all of us; 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

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