History

The Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (Council) was established through an Executive Order issued on September 24, 1997.  The Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians by providing leadership that promotes physically active lifestyles and links families, communities, schools, worksites, health care and media. 

The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports:

• Enlists active community support by creating partnerships with individual citizens, civic, and professional groups, amateur and professional athletes, business and labor groups, educational institutions, health care providers, and volunteer organizations in an effort to promote and improve physical fitness activities for all Commonwealth citizens.
• Seeks to strengthen and coordinate state services and programs relating to physical fitness, recreation, and sports by making recommendations to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and other state agencies as appropriate.
• Encourages local governments to enhance physical fitness activities and facilities.
• Assists in promoting school health and physical education programs throughout the Commonwealth.
• Encourages development of community-centered sports and physical activity programs throughout the state.
• Recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements by individuals and groups for their efforts to promote physical activity.
• Promotes events throughout the Commonwealth that integrate physical activity with disease prevention and health promotion initiatives.
• Encourages physical fitness among special populations, such as older Pennsylvanians, persons with disabilities, and employees in the workplace.
• Works with other groups concerned with promoting physical activity, such as the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and other state and national organizations.