Retired professor Edwin Paget (1902-1989) decided that one of the problems with the world was that babies weren't exercising enough. Therefore, their brains started to go into decline. In an effort to correct this problem, he tried to organize what he claimed were the first ever "baby olympics" in the summer of 1980.
I'm not sure they were ever held, but events would have included "crawling, weightlifing, tug-of-war, 'head-over-heels rolling' and three aquatic events, including the 'leaping fish from the water' swim."
Paget advocated a number of other unusual ideas, such as periodic brain scans for U.S. presidents, to check that their brains had sufficient oxygen levels.
He believed that the rules of basketball should be revised so that the game would be played continuously, with all free throws shot at the end of the game.
And he also designed a line of women's clothing with built-in lighting, saying, "Unlike the bikini, which reveals almost everything, much of which is unattractive, lighting permits a homely girl to reveal only her best, possibly in color."
A former student of his remembers some of Paget's other oddball ideas here.
Twin Falls Times-News - Jun 19, 1980
Lincoln Journal Star - Dec 2, 1979
Auburn Journal - Aug 9, 1981
Bonus: Back in 1965 Paget campaigned to be the first gold prospector on the moon.
source: Historic Images
Amarillo Globe Times - Nov 3, 1965
Category: Babies | Eccentrics | Exercise and Fitness