Reebok launches initiative for kids’ fitness under COVID-19 lockdown

16 / 05 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

The Reebok Foundation launched an initiative for getting children to be engaged in physical activities to remain fit under the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

The Reebok Foundation spearheaded BOKS initiative in tandem with Special Olympics to get more kids active and improve their physical and emotional well-being.

Globally, 16% of Special Olympics athletes 8-19 years old are obese and 15% are overweight. In the United States, 32% of Special Olympics athletes 8-19 years old are obese and 15% are overweight.

The obesity rate of Special Olympics athletes in the US is nearly twice that of the obesity rate in the general population among children and adolescents of the same age.

Due to a lack of training and knowledge of working with people with ID among health and fitness professionals, these children might be overlooked when it comes to having the opportunity for fitness and play.

BOKS and Special Olympics have joined forces with a shared vision to get youth with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) more active and establish a lifelong commitment to health and fitness.

To celebrate this collaboration, Special Olympics athletes will join BOKS in its efforts to deliver at-home physical activity to families and kids during COVID-19.

Kids will be able to join a LIVE workout on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/boks/ – with Special Olympics youth leaders Kyle Norman, Alex Keith, Myah Garrett, and Britney Bautista.

BOKS provides a program based in functional fitness and play that anyone and everyone can engage in regardless of age or skill and is currently run in many different inclusive environments throughout the United States.

Working together with Special Olympics, the team will offer this programming as an additional fitness opportunity in 7,600 Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (SOUCS), especially the elementary schools.

SOUCS is a program for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments.

“It is an honor to be working with Special Olympics given its global impact and reach,” said Kathleen Tullie, executive director of the BOKS Program. “BOKS has always been a welcome space to anyone, but with the support of Special Olympics we can certify our programming is delivered in an even more prescribed manner.”