[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3684-S3685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP DAY

 Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, yesterday marked the celebration of the 
fifth annual National Sportsmanship Day. Designed to promote ethics, 
fair play, and good sportsmanship in athletics, as well as in society 
as a whole, National Sportsmanship Day was initiated by the Institute 
for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island.
  The Institute for International Sport gained national attention in 
1993 as the sponsor for the highly successful World Scholar-Athlete 
Games. More than 1,500 student-athletes from 108 countries participated 
in athletic and scholastic competitions. This year, the institute will 
sponsor the Rhode Island Scholar-Athlete Games, which will serve as a 
model for similar events in all 50 States.
  Schools and colleges from across the United States are encouraged to 
participate in National Sportsmanship Day. This year, 5,000 schools 
representing all 50 States and 48 countries are expected to participate 
in the celebration. The programs to celebrate National Sportsmanship 
Day include discussions, debates, and essay writing and are based on 
material that the institute provides.
  The information provided to participants by the institute also 
outlines the Student-Athlete Outreach Program, which encourages high 
schools and colleges to send talented student-athletes to local 
elementary and middle schools as positive role models. The institute 
also selects individuals to serve as Ethics Fellows. This year's Ethics 
Fellows include a Rhode Islander, Claire Ferguson, who is best known as 
President of the U.S. Figure Skating Association. 
[[Page S3685]] All of this is done in an effort to highlight the 
qualities that comprise sportsmanship--honesty, integrity, and 
humility.
  National Sportsmanship Day is recognized by the President's Council 
on Physical Fitness and Sports. Florence Griffith Joyner and Tom 
McMillen, co-chairs of the President's Council, pointed out the 
``valuable life skills and lessons that are learned by youth and adults 
through participation in sports.'' I ask that the full text of the 
letter be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  I am delighted that National Sportsmanship Day was created in Rhode 
Island and I applaud all of those who participated in this inspiring 
event from the students and teachers, to the Ethics Fellows and the 
participants in the Outreach Program. Finally, I would like to 
congratulate all of those at the Institute for International Sport at 
the university of Rhode Island who have made this program a success for 
the past 5 years.
  The letter follows:
                                           The President's Council


                               on Physical Fitness and Sports,

                                Washington, DC, November 28, 1994.
     Mr. Todd Seidel,
     Director of National Sportsmanship Day, Institute for 
         International Sport, University of Rhode Island, 
         Kingston, RI.
       Dear Mr. Seidel: The President's Council on Physical 
     Fitness and Sports is pleased to recognize March 7, 1995, as 
     National Sportsmanship Day. The valuable life skills and 
     lessons that are learned by youth and adults through 
     participation in sports cannot be overestimated.
       Participation in sports makes contributions to all aspects 
     of our lives, such as heightened awareness of the value of 
     fair play, ethics, integrity, honesty and sportsmanship, as 
     well as improving levels of physical fitness and health.
       The Council congratulates the Institute for International 
     Sport for its continued leadership in organizing this 
     important day and wish you every success in your efforts to 
     broaden participation and awareness of National Sportsmanship 
     Day.
           Sincerely,
     Florence Griffith Joyner,
       Co-Chair.
     Tom McMillen,
       Co-Chair.
       

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