The summit convened sport leaders with those from health, philanthropy, media, industry and other realms to start a national conversation about how to give stakeholders–from parents to policy makers–the tools to build “Sport for All, Play for Life” communities. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the event launched The Aspen Institute’s Project Play, a two-year initiative that will include a series of roundtables to address the barriers that limit children’s access to sport activity that is healthy, fun and developmentally appropriate.

Project Play represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine youth sports in America, with special focus on underserved communities and the needs of public health. The perspectives, ideas and research shared at the roundtables and other events will lead to the publication of a final report, also underwritten by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in late 2014.

Attending the inaugural summit were more than 80 organizational and thought leaders including U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun, Oregon State Men’s Basketball Coach Craig Robinson, Google senior executive David Drummond, and top officials from sport governing bodies. The agenda included sessions on the past, present and potential future of youth sports, capped by an evening town hall — open to the public — featuring Olympic champions Gary Hall Jr., Michelle Kwan and Nancy Hogshead-Makar, and Paralympians Sarah Reinertsen and Jon Lujon.

Project Play Summit Summary Report: (.pdf)

Summit agenda: (.doc)

Summit participants: (.doc)

Childhood Obesity Rates in US Compared to Other Countries (.doc)

Future Scenario Planning – a look at 3 possible outcomes (.doc)

Graphic Artist Rendering Day One: International Models and Suggestions for National Policy on Youth Sports

Graphic Artist Rendering Day One:  Future Scenarios

Graphic Artist Rendering Day Two: Youth Panels and Windows of Opportunity

Graphic Artist Rendering Day Two: Breakthrough Ideas at the Local Level and National Governing Bodies

Aspen Daily News coverage of public town hall: “Athletes to Local Kids: Train Hard, Have Fun”.

Blog and video of town hall featuring athletes:  The Aspen Institute’s Project Play Launches

More video of featured conversations from the summit, plus additional materials, will be made available on this page as it becomes available.