In a federal National Education Goals Panel study, Minnesota's eighth grade students scored significantly higher on an international science test than students from any country except Singapore. They scored 49 points above the international average and 31 points above the average for U.S. eighth grade students. But in every area and especially in science, Minnesota scores tended to behigher than the United States in general. ESPN and others televise cheerleading tournaments, which showcase the strength, agility and rhythm of the participants and feature exciting action. There is even talk of making cheerleading an Olympic sport in 2004.
Some experts worry that cheerleading has become nearly as dangerous as other sports.
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System indicated 4,954 emergency room visits by cheerleaders in 1980, and over the past 20 years that number has increased steadily. Though cheerleading has become more popular over the years, injuries are growing faster than participation. The most recent estimate showed 21,096 injuries associated with cheerleading last year. Many colleges understate the number of crimes on their campuses. Some colleges have not counted crimes that occurred on city streets running through their campus.