One of the International Olympic Committee’s values is Sportsmanship.

Many people do not understand the true meaning of being a ‘sportsman’. It does not mean that you must be very good at the sport that you have opted to pursue, but that you must be a person who goes through life in a fair, just and generous manner. In actual fact, you do not even have to practise a sport!

Sportsmanship has many connotations, especially in today’s modern era.

Originally, this Olympic value had a much narrower meaning, in that, the more important emphasis was on competing fairly and generously with your colleagues and respecting your opponents.

The two-man bobsled competition at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Games has become legendary. This extract from the IOC’s campaign “Celebrate Humanity” illustrates perfectly the spirit of true sportsmanship (www.olympic.org/uk/passion/humanity/humanity2002–uk.asp).

The British team driven by Tony Nash had just completed its first run, which had put them in second place. Then they realised that they had broken a bolt on the rear axle of their sled, which would put them out of the competition.

At the bottom of the hill, the great Italian bobsled driver Eugenio Monti, who was in first place, heard of their situation. Without hesitation, Monti removed the bolt from the rear axle of his own sled and sent it to the top of the hill. The British team fixed it to their sled and then completed their run and won the gold medal. Monti’s team took the bronze.

When asked about his act of sportsmanship, Eugenio Monti deflected any praise, saying, “Tony Nash did not win because I gave him a bolt. Tony Nash won because he was the best driver.”

The story of Monti’s selfless act spread and because of it he was given the first De Coubertin Medal for sportsmanship. The award, named after the founder of the modern Olympics, is one of the noblest honours that can be bestowed upon an Olympic athlete. “

The Olympic Games always remind us that whilst during the competition itself athletes are obviously adversaries, for most of their life they are friends and equals. What is really important is not their background or their looks, but that they compete by applying the rules of fair play.

This is precisely why I feel that it is extremely important that all our National Sports Federations ensure that they are bringing up true sportsmen and women and giving every athlete the opportunity of competing on an equal footing with his/her colleagues.

Vice President, Malta Olympic Committee