FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2009

 

 

HOUSTON – The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Associationand the United States Professional Tennis Association, the world's oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals, have joined forces to promote the preventive health benefits of exercise on Capitol Hill.

The partnership aligns two major initiatives: The USPTA’s Tennis – for the health of it!^SM, a campaign to make the general public aware of the tremendous health, fitness and psychological benefits of tennis and encourage people to get out and play the sport as a part of their regular fitness regimen; and IHRSA’s “Vision for a Healthier America,” a policy platform asserting that regular physical activity, as a core component of prevention and health promotion, will lead to a healthier, happier and more productive America, while reining in skyrocketing health care costs.

“USPTA’s Tennis – for the health of it! campaign presents an overwhelming case for including tennis in the kind of healthy, physically active lifestyle promoted by IHRSA’s “Vision for a Healthier America,” said Joe Moore, president and CEO of IHRSA. “At this critical time in our nation, as Congress debates the importance of physical activity as a core component of preventive health care, we are thrilled to join with USPTA to bring the message of Tennis – for the health of it! to Capitol Hill.”

“Clearly this is an ideal partnership between IHRSA’s “Vision for a Healthier America” and USPTA’s Tennis – for the health of it! and it is extremely exciting for us to be able to team up with IHRSA on this important platform to help make America healthy,” said Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA master professional and vice president. “With research backing the fact that tennis is one of greatest sports to participate in for its health benefits, we feel it can serve as a key component in IHRSA’s platform, especially with USPTA’s strength as a delivery force to bring tennis to the public.”