AAU JUNIOR OLYMPICS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM

The Quaker Oats Company announced that it has extended its national sponsorship of the AAU Junior Olympics and Physical Fitness Programs.

This marks the sixth consecutive year in which Quaker has sponsored this pre-Olympic competition, and ensures the continuation of the program to a seventh year.

Donald B. Lourie (right), outstanding Princeton quarterback of the 1920's, was presented with a unique award in the form of a Life Membership in the Amateur Athletic Union, by A.A.U. President, Jesse A. Pardue, in New York. The Quaker Oats Company extended its national sponsorship of the A.A.U. Junior Olympics and Physical Fitness Programs.

The Quaker-AAU Junior Olympics is regarded as the largest, most sophisticated youth sports program in the world. Involving over 16 million youngsters throughout the United States since its inception in 1965, this event provides the only national pre-Olympic competition available for many of the country's finest young athletes.

Included in the program are 13 sports under AAU jurisdiction, among them swimming, diving, gymnastics, and track.

In 1969, the Physical Fitness Programs provided fitness tests for over 2 million boys and girls in some 4,000 schools throughout the country. Over 5 million young people have participated in the program in the past four years.

In announcing continuing sponsorship of the programs, Quaker Oats Board Chairman Donald B. Lourie said: "We regard it as a privilege to sponsor both of these events. The Junior Olympics helps to provide accomplished athletes for our National Olympic Teams. In the Mexico City games, for instance, over 100 U.S. team members had been former Junior Olympians. The Physical Fitness Programs offer an opportunity for challenging athletic involvement to large numbers of youngsters, regardless of the level of their athletic achievement. Both of these programs deserve our active interest and support."

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Mr. Lourie is a graduate of Princeton University, where he was a star quarterback and leading passer and runner on three Princeton football squads. He was named to several All-American teams including that of Walter Camp, who established the national rating system. In 1964, Mr. Lourie was awarded the gold medal of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, which honors distinguished Americans who have, by their interest, spirit and conduct, rendered distinguished service to the game and spirit of American football. He was recently given a life membership in the Amateur Athletic Union.

AAU President Jesse A. Pardue said: "The Amateur Athletic Union is gratified and pleased by the extension of its agreement with The Quaker Oats Company as national sponsor of the AAU Junior Olympics and Physical Fitness Programs. There has been a tremendous expansion in the number of youngsters participating in these activities since Quaker joined hands with the AAU in 1965. This has been an excellent example of cooperation between sports and business, with Quaker providing the financial means and the AAU furnishing the operating knowledge and leadership in reaching thousands of boys and girls from coast to coast."

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