Cricketers to help fight childhood obesity

Australia's cricketers will be at the forefront of a federal government campaign to fight obesity in school-going children. The government is planning to invest a massive $116m into the programme, and has enlisted the help of Cricket Australia, the Australian Football League and Netball Australia.

The plan involves sporting icons visiting schools twice a week, to advise children on proper nutrition and on they skills they need to be top performers. Schools have been asked to ensure that they devote at least two hours every week to physical education, in an effort to inculcate a sporting culture that will replace the current junk food-couch potato-video game trend.

There have even been calls from some quarters for a ban on junk food advertisements during TV programmes for kids, but with the fast food and soda-pop industry being major sponsors of professional sport, such a step is unlikely to be endorsed by too many sporting stars.