Sports legends from around the world come together to support The Daily Mile to help kids get #FitForLife
Sports legends from around the world come together to support The Daily Mileto help kids get #FitForLife
● Sports legends such as USA Olympic Heptathlon legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee,
Somalian World Champion Abdi Bile & Portuguese Olympic Champion Rosa Mota
came together at the weekend with VIPS including the CEO’s of ASICS, World
Athletics and USA Track & Field to back The Daily Mile.
● The shared vision is to reach 10 million children through The Daily Mile by 2032.
● The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, is a transformative initiative where children
run, jog, roll or walk for fifteen minutes every day, improving the health, happiness
and wellbeing of millions of children.
● Over 548,000 children in 1,174 schools across the U.S. have now joined the
program.
● Elaine Wyllie, Founder of The Daily Mile, says: “We want to get 10 million children
around the world doing The Daily Mile by 2032 and by teaming up with some of
the most influential sports people and organizations, together we can make this
happen.”
Sports legends from around the world came together to endorse The Daily Mile – a children’s health
initiative that is rapidly gaining popularity across the US.
Former athletes such as USA Olympic Heptathlon legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Somalian World
Champion Abdi Bile and Portugese Olympic Champion Rosa Mota came together with guests from
major sports organizations including CEO of ASICS Motoi Oyama, Nike Coach Sonia O’Sullivan, World
Athletics President Seb Coe, CEO of USA Track & Field Max Siegel, CEO of Athletics Canada Mathieu
Gentès, CEO of UK Athletics Jack Buckner, The Daily Mile founder Elaine Wyllie MBE and many more.
The reception took place on Friday July 22 at the Graduate Hotel in Eugene, Oregon during the World
Athletics Championships Oregon22, of which The Daily Mile is the Official School Education Fitness
Program Supporter, and brought together champions of health from around the world to set out
plans to bring The Daily Mile to more communities by 2032 and help children to be fit for life.
The event was chaired by Tom Crotty, Group Director at INEOS. Since 2016, The Daily Mile
Foundation has been supported by INEOS, which has enabled the free initiative to grow across the
world, helping millions of kids to get active every day.
Spreading fast across the US, more than 548,000 children in 1,174 schools in the US are now signed up to The Daily Mile as more and more schools are joining every day. Globally, there are 3 million children in more than 14,000 schools taking part thanks to teachers and partners in 87 countries around the world.
The initiative believes there is more to be done if we are to provide the opportunity of good health
and well-being to all children. Not only does The Daily Mile help to improve fitness, it improves
attainment at school, promotes positive social interaction, improves focus and mental wellbeing.
Elaine Wyllie MBE, Founder of The Daily Mile, says: “It is amazing to come together today with a
powerful group of former athletes and leaders dedicated to healthy wellbeing to lay out our
ambition to see every child enjoy the benefits of The Daily Mile.”
“Multiple scientific studies have shown that The Daily Mile improves fitness, allows teachers to
develop trusted relationships with students, with children reporting feeling calmer and happier.”
“We want to get 10 million children around the world doing The Daily Mile by 2032 and by
teaming up with some of the most influential people and organizations together we will make this
happen.”
Tom Crotty, Group Director at INEOS, says: “I am proud to chair today’s event on behalf of INEOS and
welcome athletes and sports professionals from around the world to discuss bringing The Daily Mile
to more children and communities.”
“Keeping active from a young age is so important to shape habits for life – which is why we support
The Daily Mile, it’s free, it’s fun and it’s social. As childhood obesity increases and we deal with the
after-effects of covid-19 on children’s mental wellbeing, we look forward to helping more children
and families to lead happier, healthier lives.”
<ENDS>
Media Contacts
Andrew McLachlan andrew@mediazoo.tv +447931377162
Eve Debbage eve.debbage@mediazoo.tv +447713336937
Program contacts
John Mayock John.Mayock@ineos.com +447702777038
Kathryn Shuler Kathryn.Shuler@ineos.com 012815356634
Sara Cassells Sara.Cassells@ineos.com 012815354361
Notes to Editors
The Daily Mile was first developed by Elaine Wyllie MBE when she was Headteacher of St Ninian’s
Primary School in Stirling, Scotland in February 2012. Since 2016, The Daily Mile Foundation has
been supported by global chemical company INEOS, which has enabled the free initiative to grow
globally helping millions of kids to get active every day.
The initiative is simple – but can be transformational to children’s health and wellbeing. It involves
classes heading outside to jog or run around the school grounds for 15-minutes every day, at
whatever pace suits the child best. It gets children active with their friends and teachers and
refreshed for further learning. The Daily Mile is free, fun and fits in the school day easily.
Though named “The Daily Mile” (as children tend to average running a mile in the 15-minutes), the
distance isn’t compulsory, and the ethos of the scheme is of inclusivity, enjoyment, and
self-improvement over time. The Daily Mile is intended to help all children, no matter their age,
ability or personal circumstances, enjoy getting active every day – getting fitter and healthier now,
but also developing healthy habits for a lifetime.
Watch The Daily Mile campaign video here.
Media Resources
- Download a copy of the official Press Release
- Download The Daily Mile and World Athletics Commercial & Video
- Download Daily Mile Photos
- Learn about the Youth Engagement Program Making Tracks on the World Athletics website
- Download The Daily Mile Fast Facts, Flyer, and School Health Guidelines