The National Football League (NFL) in the US has announced a new partnership

with Microsoft that has made the technology company's Xbox 360 console has the official console sponsor of the league.

Under the terms of the agreement, the entertainment and games console will work with the NFL's youth health programme, NFL PLAY 60, to teach youngsters about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and tackle childhood obesity. Kinect for Xbox 360 will be integrated into events and programmes.

NFL Media's COO Brian Rolapp said: "Fitness is core to our game, and we arelooking forward to working with Kinect for Xbox 360 to evolve NFL PLAY 60 in new and innovative ways."

"The Xbox 360 brand represents many of the same values as the NFL, including fun, fitness and great entertainment," adds Microsoft's Dennis Durkin.

Since NFL PLAY 60 launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than US$250m to youth health and fitness through programming, grants and media time for public service announcements.

The NFL and its teams have built more than 1,500 NFL Youth Fitness Zones and

organised more than 1,500 Play 60 youth events.

Details: http://lei.sr?a=d1B6m