[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 21 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)] [Senate] [Page S1862] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP DAY Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, 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. I applaud this year's participants in National Sportsmanship Day, and congratulate the institute for its ongoing work to instill the best of values in America's youth. Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, March 1, is National Sportsmanship Day. A project of the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island, National Sportsmanship Day is the largest initiative of its kind in the world. Now in its 15th year of promoting the highest ideals of sportsmanship and fair play among America's youth, the day will be observed in over 13,000 schools in all 50 States. The day will involve more than 5 million students, teachers, administrators, coaches, and parents in discussions on the issue of sportsmanship. National Sportsmanship Day was first championed by Rhode Island Senators Claiborne Pell and the late John Chafee. This year, National Sportsmanship Day will honor these Senators; USA Today, which conducts an annual National Sportsmanship Day essay contest, and its sports editor Monte Lorell; the President's Council on Physical Fitness; the Old Dominican Athletic Conference, which has reinforced the values of sportsmanship among its teams; and Playing for Peace, an international organization which uses basketball and sportsmanship to bring young people together from communities such as Belfast, Northern Ireland and Johannesburg, South Africa. I am proud Rhode Island is home to the Institute for International Sport and National Sportsmanship Day, and pleased to see the positive influence it has had on youngsters across the Nation during its 15 years of promoting the best in athletics. ____________________