[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1364-S1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP DAY

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, March 3rd was the eighth annual 
celebration of National Sportsmanship Day in over 10,000 schools in all 
fifty states and more than 100 countries throughout the world.
  Recognized by the President's Council on Physical Fitness, National 
Sportsmanship Day was conceived by the Institute for International 
Sport, located in my home state of Rhode Island. As the President's 
Council Co-Chairs Tom McMillen and Florence Griffith Joyner have 
stated, ``this event will serve as a highly visible, one-day effort to 
stress the importance of ethics and sportsmanship, not just on the 
athletic field but in all aspects of life. . . having a powerful and 
positive effect on the youth of the United States and the world.''
  Heeding President Clinton's challenge to begin a serious dialogue on 
race relations in the United States, the centerpiece of this year's 
National Sportsmanship Day was a seminar and town meeting at the 
University of Rhode Island discussing race issues in sport. This day 
long event included panels composed of athletes, coaches, and 
journalists who discussed the many different aspects of these issues.
  In addition, the Institute has enlisted the help of several Sports 
Ethics Fellows, including Mills Lane, a Reno, Nevada district judge and 
internationally known professional boxing referee, Billy Packer, CBS 
sports commentator, and Ken Dryden, the president and general manager 
of the Toronto Maple Leafs. These men and women are wonderful role 
models who can be admired for more than just their athletic prowess. 
They have consistently demonstrated an interest in furthering the 
principles of honesty and integrity in sport and society.
  These Sports Ethics Fellows are helping to teach the important 
lessons of

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National Sportsmanship Day by developing programs for National 
Sportsmanship Day. Through competition, young athletes can learn that 
while winning is a worthy goal, honor, discipline, and hard work are 
more important. Indeed, these values will guide them in all aspects of 
everyday life.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join the President's Council on 
Physical Fitness and Sports and the Rhode Island Congressional 
delegation in recognizing this day and the principles it 
embodies.

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