A final report is given of an assessment and comparison series which evaluated the national fitness and sport promotion systems in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The framework of the three country-specific assessments treated national level policies and programs first, followed by state or provincial activities. At each stage, physical fitness and sports were dealt with separately. This report synthesizes the previous assessments, and identifies salient points and recommendations for the United States system. Comparisons are made among the three countries in the areas of administrative structure, resources, types of programs, and transmission of policy. It is noted that, in Canada and Australia, physical fitness aims are pursued within the context of a broad recreational orientation, while in the United States, much fitness promotion is done in a preventive health context. The primary observation about sports policy and promotion is that both Canada and Australia allocate substantial amounts of money to promotion of both professional and amateur sports, in contrast to the United States, where virtually no direct financial support is given to these sports. Nine specific recommendations are made for strengthening the United States system. (JD)