This Week's Facts:

-Website Investigates Science Behind Sports

-Library of Congress Provides Complete History of Olympics

-Communities to Participate in Olympic Inspired Events

-Fitness Council Promotes Physical Fitness for American Youths

-Indiana Sports Corporation Highlights Hoosier Olympic Athletes

Those of us who didn’t make it to the Olympics this year can still have Olympic-sized fun here in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Tourism has trips dedicated to the weekend athlete. There are a variety of activities and trip ideas for everyone, regardless of athletic ability You can try golf, swimming, hiking, boating, and many other activities designed to bring out the inner athlete in anyone. In between watching the Olympic games, don’t forget to get out there and set some of your own records!

Friday Facts Editorial Team:

Katharine Springer
State Data Center Coordinator

Elisabeth Hedges
Federal Documents Librarian
&
Kim Brown-Harden
State Documents Coordinator

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Website Investigates Science Behind Sports

We’ve talked about the Science of Sports before, but the latest installment has a special focus: Science of the Summer Olympics. There are several different segments you can explore. Measuring a Champion discusses the timekeeping technology used for timing athletes – at events at this level, participants often win by a millisecond. It is essential to have accurate timing equipment! In addition to information about technology, you can also read and watch video about the physical science of athletes. You can learn about how sprinter Usain Bolt goes so fast or how swimmer Missy Franklin uses motion to propel herself. There are videos about other athletes and events, as well. You can even learn the physics behind how wheelchair athletes propel themselves. This year, instead of simply being amazed by feats of athleticism, you can learn the science behind them!

Library of Congress Provides Complete History of Olympics 

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Olympics, the Library of Congress has a great research guide on their website. Of course, this guide is specific to items in their collection, but there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to find these materials elsewhere! There is a general bibliography, as well as guides to Olympic Rules and History and Politics. Clicking on the link for Official Reports will lead you to the LA84 Foundation, which has posted official reports of the organizing committee dating back to 1896. 1896 marked the beginning of what is known as the modern Olympics and was held in Athens, Greece. To find out more dates and locations of both the summer and winter games be sure to check out the Dates and Locations guide. Finally, don’t forget to look at the Selected Images from the LOC collections. You can view pictures of past Olympians, as well as medals from previous games.

Communities to Participate in Olympic Inspired Events

While thousands of Olympic athletes are representing America in the 2012 Olympics in London this summer, the White House is sponsoring a “Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetup” all across America.

On Saturday, July 28th, the first day of the summer Olympics, communities across the country will participate in Olympic-inspired games and activities that promote the 2012 events as well as get people active. The Lets Move! campaign wants to help get Americans moving and having fun in honor of the Olympics kick off.

This article is brought to you as a courtesy of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) via the USA.gov blog.

Fitness Council Promotes Physical Fitness for American Youths

Olympians aren’t the only ones trying to stay fit this summer! It’s also important for the rest of us to get (or stay) active. The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is designed to do exactly that. Originally created as the President’s Council on Youth Fitness in 1956, the council was formed following a study that determined that American youth were far behind their European counterparts when it came to physical fitness. By 1964, the name had changed to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and the Presidential Physical Fitness Award was established. Throughout its years, the council has had many celebrity spokespeople, including Stan Musial, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Florence Joyner. In addition to offering fitness awards for schoolchildren and adults, the council has also been responsible for the HealthierUS Initiative.

Indiana Sports Corporation Highlights Hoosier Olympic Athletes

Indiana is known as the Amateur Sports Capitol of the world, and for good reason. The Indiana Sports Corporation  is involved in some of Indiana’s biggest sports competitions: the Pan Am Games, the Big Ten Championships, Circle City Classic, the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, youth programs, and many other notable sports competitions and events.  In celebration of this year’s Olympic Games in London, the Indiana Sports Corporation offers an Indiana Perspective on the 2012 Olympic Games. There are approximately over 20 athletes who are from Indiana or have an Indiana connection that will participate in the Games. Those of us who can’t make it to London can experience the sights and sounds of London from the perspective of Hoosiers who are there. The Olympic Games are an exciting time for athletes all over the country! Be sure to support our Indiana athletes!