title: "Live, Learn and Play": building strategic alliances between professional sports and public health.
abstract: Public-private partnerships allow communities and corporate entities to pool resources to address a mission of relevance to their common constituency or consumer base. Collaborations between public health and professional sports may present unique opportunities to improve health outcomes related to physical activity since athletes are fitness icons, both for adults and children. There are many "win-win" opportunities, as sports venues regularly host huge numbers of spectators, offering food and entertainment, providing hours of exposure, and introducing new ideas for engaging fans in order to remain a competitive draw. In 2008, the San Diego Padres embarked on a communitywide fitness initiative, FriarFit, including incorporating 10-minute Instant Recess breaks during their Sunday homestand pre-game shows. Many lessons have been learned that may be useful to others mounting such initiatives, such as: there is more at stake in cost-benefit and risk-benefit assessment for sports executives, requiring greater caution and circumspection than is typical for public health projects; the core business of the corporate entity must be accommodated without undermining the health objectives; and health aims must be addressed in a way that is financially viable and delivers tangible value for profit-making concerns, in terms of marketing, revenues or brand enhancement.
authors: Department of Health Services, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA. aYancey@ucla.edu
authors: Antronette
authors: A
authors: Yancey
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Winfield
authors: Judi
authors: J
authors: Larsen
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Anderson
authors: Portia
authors: P
authors: Jackson
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Overton
authors: Shawn
authors: S
authors: Wilson
authors: Allen
authors: A
authors: Rossum
authors: Shiriki
authors: S
authors: Kumanyika
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056352:Athletes; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015444:Exercise; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D024382:Professional Role; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D040241:Social Marketing; D013177:Sports; D014481:United States