WASHINGTON President Barack Obama will host a summit to discuss sports safety and concussions later this month, the White House announced on Friday.
The summit will take place on May 29. Participants will include young athletes, their parents and coaches, as well as professional sports stars and military service members.
During the event, Obama will announce new steps by the private and public sectors to educate the public about how to prevent and treat concussions and encourage research into sports-related head injuries.
“As both a parent and an avid sports fan the president appreciates the role that sports plays in the lives of young people, and his administration is committed to helping ensure that children continue to be active and play sports safely,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
The president in the past has said that if he had a son, he would have to think twice about allowing him to play football.
The National Football League offered a $735 million settlement last year to 4,800 retired players who suffered head trauma, but a judge has rejected preliminary approval of that sum, saying it “may not be enough to cover injured players.”
Carney said the summit will focus not just on football but also on other sports, such as soccer, which put players at risk of concussions.