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For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
dbray@stlouissports.org
JOEY CHEEK, BOB COSTAS HEADLINE
2006 NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION AND CITIZENSHIP THROUGH
SPORTS ALLIANCE HOST ANNUAL DINNER JUNE 10
ST. LOUIS — May 18, 2006 — St. Louis has earned the reputation as America’s best sports city. The St. Louis Sports Commission also wants to make the region home to America’s “best sports.” On Saturday, June 10, the Sports Commission will partner with the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) to host the eighth annual National Sportsmanship Awards at the Chase Park Plaza Khorassan Ballroom. The awards honor the nation’s top athletes and administrators who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, citizenship, ethical conduct and community service.
This year’s featured honoree is Joey Cheek, speedskating gold and silver medalist at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. A model of sportsmanship during the Winter games, Cheek will join sportscaster Bob Costas for a live keynote interview on stage during the event. Cheek made headlines in February when he donated his Olympic medal prize money to the Right To Play organization. He was the recipient of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Spirit Award and was elected by his peers to carry the American flag into the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Olympics.
An athlete from each of the CTSA’s member associations will be recognized at the event. The CTSA is the largest coalition of professional and amateur athletics organizations in the United States focused on character in sport. The alliance is committed to promoting positive behavior in youth sports by harnessing the collective resources of major U.S. sports organizations to provide practical and proven tools for parents and coaches in youth sports. Its members include Major League Baseball, the NCAA, NHL, NBA, WNBA, and NAIA, among others. Past award recipients include Tony Gwynn, Jerome Bettis, Torry Holt, Jim Thome, Doug Weight, Michelle Kwan, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The 2006 award winners will be announced next week.
This is the second consecutive year that St. Louis is home to the National Sportsmanship Awards. Last year, the event was called the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Awards Dinner.
“The event’s new name represents the vision to make it one of the nation’s most prestigious and prominent sports awards dinners,” said Sports Commission President Frank Viverito. “This will be a memorable, inspirational evening to salute the nation’s top athletes and role models for their commitment to sportsmanship and community service.”
The National Sportsmanship Awards is the signature event of the Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative, which creates more positive environments for area kids to play sports so that they will remain active and lead healthier, happier lives.
Tickets are available to the National Sportsmanship Awards. For more information, call 314-992-0686 or visit www.stlsports.org.
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