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This week, First Lady Michelle Obama joined U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and Rio hopefuls at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 100 Day Countdown event in Times Square to announce nationwide commitments to get nearly two million American children active as part of Let’s Move!.

“We want our young people to be inspired by the amazing stories of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. And we don’t just want our young people to watch these Olympic sports – we want them to get active and try these sports out for themselves,” said the First Lady.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the 2016 Olympics 100 Days Out event in Times Square, New York, N.Y., April 27, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Mrs. Obama is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active. Through commitments to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USOC National Governing Bodies for sport, including USA Archery, USA Basketball, USA Cycling/USA BMX, US Equestrian Federation, USA Fencing, USA Field Hockey, USA Gymnastics, USA Handball, USA Judo, USA Swimming, USA Synchronized Swimming, US Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation, USA Track & Field, USA Triathlon, USA Weightlifting, and USA Wrestling, these organizations will provide beginner athletic programming to kids throughout the next year.

To build on the inspiration of the Summer Games, NBC Olympics is providing a path to the playing field, pool, gymnasium and court through Gold Map ®, a program that leads young Olympic viewers on a journey that begins with watching the Games on their television sets and ends with their participation in an Olympic sport in their local area.

These commitments give kids the chance to try new sports and learn not just athletic skills, but also life skills, like discipline and teamwork, in addition to helping them develop healthy habits. Many kids who may not otherwise have access to these types of sports and programs will now be able to participate thanks to the opportunities provided by these commitments.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a fencing demonstration with Ibtihaj Muhammad of the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team during the 2016 Olympics 100 Days Out event in Times Square, New York, N.Y., April 27, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Not only did the First Lady announce the commitments for kids to get active in Olympic sports, she also had the chance to try out some of them for herself. Mrs. Obama joined USA Fencing and USA Basketball athletes, along with local students, to learn new fencing skills and practice a few basketball passing drills.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a basketball demonstration with Tamika Catchings of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team during the 2016 Olympics 100 Days Out event in Times Square, New York, N.Y., April 27, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

It was an exciting event as Team USA begins the countdown to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. We hope kids across the country will be inspired and motivated by the amazing Olympic and Paralympic athletes to lead active and healthy lives themselves. We know the First Lady will as she proclaimed she is a “real, lifelong, die-hard Olympics fan.” Watch Mrs. Obama’s full remarks from the event:

Posted by Kelly Miterko, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on April 29, 2016