Lincoln Chafee: “Today marks the 15th anniversary of National Sportsmanship Day, which is celebrated on the first Tuesday of each March.…”

“Today marks the 15th anniversary of National Sportsmanship Day, which is celebrated on the first Tuesday of each March. National Sportsmanship Day was the creation of the Institute of International Sport at the University of Rhode Island, and it is now the largest initiative of its kind in the world. On March 6, 1990, the Institute celebrated the first National Sportsmanship Day in approximately 3,000 schools. By promoting sportsmanship through this ceremonial day over the ensuing 15 years, the institute has made a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of young student-athletes. The institute has received thousands of letters and e-mails commending its leadership in this area. National Sportsmanship Day also has spawned many local sportsmanship initiatives, led to the creation of an annual essay contest on sportsmanship in USA Today, and inspired the celebration of sportsmanship days in foreign countries such as Australia and Bermuda. This year, through the institute's Team Sportsmanship initiative, groups of college athletes will visit their local elementary, middle, and high schools to further a dialogue among youth about sportsmanship and fair play. As evidenced by media reports on drug scandals and on-field fights, the promotion of sportsmanship among youngsters remains a useful and beneficial endeavor.”