TWITO GOTTARDY SNAVELY FLOYD ZIMMERMAN. sport programs, the United States has the second highest rate of childhood obesity worldwide.

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ZIMMERMAN TWITO GOTTARDY SNAVELY FLOYD Fortius Elite Sport for All:

performance, Fortius Sport Systems has taken an in depth look at the

S ranks relatively high on gold medals per capita, our rank drops

to drop when medals per GDP is compared to that of other countries.

United States has the second highest rate of childhood obesity worldwide.

development in the United States, Australia, and Canada to form a five

elite American athletes, it encourages and provides opportunities for

1 ZIMMERMAN TWITO GOTTARDY SNAVELY FLOYD Fortius Elite Sport for All: Charged with the task of reinvigorating our nation s elite sport performance, Fortius Sport Systems has taken an in depth look at the elite sport programs within the United States. While the U.S ranks relatively high on gold medals per capita, our rank drops significantly when compared to total medals won per capita and continues to drop when medals per GDP is compared to that of other countries. We also explore the effect of childhood obesity in the development of elite sport within the United States. Due in part to the lack of physical fitness and youth sport programs, the United States has the second highest rate of childhood obesity worldwide. Fortius Sport Systems has explored three paradigms of elite sport development in the United States, Australia, and Canada to form a five step plan to implement an elite sports development program within the United States. Not only does the Fortius Sport Systems plan support the production of elite American athletes, it encourages and provides opportunities for youth sport development. GOALS: Increased elite performance across international sports Sports Increased physical education across the United States population Increased elite sport development opportunities for non-popular youth sports

Evaluating American Performance Ratio of Male to Female Olympic Medal Winners This graphic displays the percentage of medal winners by gender.

2 Evaluating American Performance Ratio of Male to Female Olympic Medal Winners This graphic displays the percentage of medal winners by gender. Blue bar portions represent female medals and red bar portions represent male medals. Internationally, the range of the ratio between male and female Olympic medal winners varied heavily at the most recent Olympic games. There are countries that produced male medal winners exclusively as well as countries that produce female medal winners exclusively. The United States produced medal winners at a ratio of roughly 7 females to 3 males. That is, 70% of our medal winners were female. Given that the U.S.A. produces a relatively large amount of Olympic participants and medal winners, one would expect that number to be closer to 50%. The inequality may be due to social, economic, or cultural values in American sport systems. Moving forward there should be a focus on collaboration between successful male and female sport teams. Though physical differences exist, maintaining communication and coordination between both genders encourages the qualitative change we would like to see in our young athletes. Medals and Gold Medals Per Capita Rank Total Medals per capita Gold Medals per capita (Year) (Rank) (Year) (Rank) 2012: : : : : : : 46 U.S. Summer Olympic Medals Per Gross Domestic Product Rank Fig 1.2 Total medals per GDP Year) (Rank) 2012: : : : 76 Fig 1.3 Fig 1.1 Total Medals Per GDP The U.S.A. is even weaker in medal count when compared to economic power (Fig 1.3). European countries such as Great Britain, France, and Germany consistently outperform us when GDP is compared to total medals won at the previous four Summer Olympic Games. The inference could then be made that the US has a lack of funding available to youth and adolescent sport programs from government, whether it be state or federal bodies. Germany, France, and Australia have strong governmental sports influences, leading to their greater success in Olympic sport because of funding. They put more importance into developing athletes for Olympic sports, making them more successful. However, as stated earlier, the United States does however, have higher ratings in the Gold Medal categories than these countries, showing that when the United States puts emphasis on a sport they can be successful in that sport.

Overweight Children in Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Countries OECD countries are composed of the wealthier nations in Europe and North America.

3 Overweight Children in Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Countries OECD countries are composed of the wealthier nations in Europe and North America. 35% of US children ages 5-17 are obese (Fig.1.4). This is nearly double the average rate of other OECD countries. By comparison, only 14% of French children are overweight. Government aided fitness programs and recreational funding are able to combat this trend. Not only do these data help us grasp the inactivity of the American youth today, which leads to more obese adults in the future, but they may also demonstrate the number of possible elite athletes lost because they are not in shape as children. Childhood Obesity of Nations vs. OECD Average Fig 1.4 Competing National Paradigms of Elite Sport Development There has been a great effort made around the world by nations to improve the elite sport development of its people. Fortius Sport Systems analyzed three of these elite development models to provide a comprehensive report to guide our approach to elite athlete development in the United States. The Free Market Model The Free Market Model used by the United States allows National Sporting Organizations (NSOs) to work independently in securing funding, developing training strategies, and generating their own individual sport success without obstruction from the federal government. This model also creates equal efforts in grassroots programs as well as elite development. Finally, this free market model is consistent with the American political philosophy. The challenges and drawbacks to a model like this revolve around each of the 50 states being able to formulate and implement their own plans. This makes a nationalized system of elite development futile. The free market model also does not change the K-12 and collegiate systems that channel athletes into sports that are only offered through that system, leaving a large gap in the development of the majority of Olympic sports. In reality, inattention to grassroots development has created social class variability in sport participation and sport excellence. The Elite Selection Model The establishments of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), along with its major Olympic NSOs have created coalition efforts with the federal government to produce the dominant organizational actor in sports policy making. These advocacy coalitions specialize in sport policies to create a more systematic, planned and increasingly scientific approach to elite sports. The challenges to the Australian model include the strength of the federal government and its primary sporting agencies (ACS and AIS). This makes elite sport priorities shut out any opportunities for other actions to be carried out. Thus, grassroots programs and mass participation have made no real progress in their advancement. These programs are very seriously struggling in the large rural areas of the nation. The Provincial Model In Canada we see a lot of similarities to Australia in that Sport Canada and the NSOs have great power within the policy network and their advocacy programs specialize in sport policy creation. We also see the federal government putting great interest in organizations involved in the increasingly scientific production of performance at the elite level of sport. Some challenges this model faces are the support of policies promoting elite level sport programs have been found detrimental to wider goals of sporting activity for all. Also, a jurisdictional ambiguity between federal and provincial levels has resulted in duplication rather than complimentary policies for sport and recreation. Our Model: The Reorganized Olympic Model Fortius Sport Systems studied these three sport development paradigms and have created a reorganized model of our current system. The combination of privately generated efforts with government provided credentials creates a Race to the Top for the US Olympics NSOs. The new model contains reward-based funding, provided by the federal program, will establish competition in the sport marketplace and still remain in line with American political practices. This allows research and education in the elite sport development to be encouraged. Some challenges we foresee in this model revolve around the involvement of the federal government defying some of the laissez-faire system of policy making. The plan also does not rid the United States of the K-12 system or the collegiate model, which has inhibited growth of many less popular Olympic sports.

Implementing the Fortius Model: A 5 Step Plan FORTIUS SPORTS 5-Steps Fortius Sports Systems proposes this five step plan for sustainable U.S. elite performance.

elite sport development system. 1.The U.S.

Nutrition. Both organizations will be restructured as seen at left. 2. Communicate the role and goals of the sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to the public and private sectors of sport. 3.

4 Implementing the Fortius Model: A 5 Step Plan FORTIUS SPORTS 5-Steps Fortius Sports Systems proposes this five step plan for sustainable U.S. elite performance. Our new model combines elements of the successful Australian and Canadian training protocols with the strengths of our current American system to produce a more functional, efficient, and productive elite sport development system. 1.The U.S. Committee on Athletics and Fitness is created to oversee, coordinate, and support the activities of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the President Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Both organizations will be restructured as seen at left. 2. Communicate the role and goals of the sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to the public and private sectors of sport. 3. Identify and obtain federal, state, and private funding for increased development of competitive and recreational sport opportunities from the community to the elite level. 4. NGBs create a credentialing system to certify individuals and programs in their respective sports who meet a high standard of training and coaching. These programs will have access to funding, research, and workshops through their NGB. 5. NGBs distribute funds from the Funding Award Program to credentialed organizations. For more information on the Fortius Sport Systems model of elite sports development, please visit our website at

5 Organization of the U.S. Committee on Athletics and Fitness To bring the U.S. back to dominance in international athletic competition and increase the fitness and health of every American, we propose the following restructure of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the President s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCSFN). The newly formed U.S. Committee on Athletics and Fitness will now oversee both these organizations. The USOC will continue to oversee the training of elite athletes and will now include beginner to elite levels. The PCSFN will continue their goal of physical activity promotion for all Americans. The United States Olympic Committee Branch The USOC will continue to operate the three Olympic Training Centers (Colorado Springs, Chula Vista, and Lake Placid), conduct and fund sport performance research, and educate coaches and programs on best training practices. The creation of the Funding Award program creates a resource available to NGB-credentialed programs for their facilities, athletes, and personnel or to create Regional Training Centers to supplement the existing Olympic Training Centers if needed. Sport Credential Program - The backbone of our model is the Sport Credential Program. Each National Governing Body determines the standards for coaches, programs, and facilities to become credentialed in training for and coaching a given sport (e.g. USA Weightlifting). Credentialing gives access to funding, research, and workshops. A direct pathway to elite development is available to the youth athlete through credentialed Private and Community Sports and Training organizations, Public School Programs, and Collegiate Programs. The President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition Branch The PCFSN will continue to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport" through three specific areas. Physical Education Advocacy will champion legislation that increases funding and P.E. requirements in public schools as well as providing P.E. curriculum tools for primary and secondary schools. Award-based programs to fund the best community recreation facilities and organizations will be handled by the Public Recreation Funding area. Finally, PCFSN will work with the CDC and other public health organizations to increase physical activity and healthy eating via the Physical Activity and Public Health area. Conclusion In response to the President's request to address the recent Olympic performance of the United States, we at Fortius Sport Systems evaluated the efficiency of our Olympic program in relation to our wealth, gender disparity of Olympic medal winners, the impact of childhood obesity on our pool of future athletes, and compared our current elite sport development model to those of our allies. From this we developed five steps to improve our Olympic performance and promote health and fitness for the U.S. population. We encourage the President to help realize what our nation could be both on the Olympic podium and at home. Through executive action, we recommend the creation and funding of a U.S. Committee on Athletics and Sport to oversee both elite performance (USOC) and the health of us all (PCFSN). The U.S. has the resources, the drive, and the character to be the world's uncontested sport superpower. We also have the opportunity for every American to become fitter and healthier. Through our model, and with national commitment and guidance, we can realize this potential.

Swim Ontario Strategic Plan. World Leader in swimming development at all levels

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