For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-345-5121
bshulman@stlsports.org

ST. LOUIS – Sept. 24, 2009 – The St. Louis Sports Commission is accepting nominations for its annual Good Sport Award, which recognizes a St. Louis area youth or high school athlete who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship.  Candidates for the award should be nominated for a specific extraordinary act of sportsmanship that occurred in the last 12 months.  Nominees whose overall approach embodies sportsmanship will also be considered.  The award is open to athletes between the ages of 8 and 18 in the St. Louis region.

To nominate a deserving candidate, visit www.nationalsportsmanshipawards.com and click on “Nominate a Good Sport.”  Nomination forms may also be obtained by calling the Sports Commission at 314-345-5130.  Nominations must be received by Friday, Oct. 23.  The award winner will be recognized at the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards at the Chase Park Plaza on Nov. 21.  The recipient and three family members or friends will be guests of the awards dinner and show.

Hosted annually by the Sports Commission and the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards celebrates all that’s right in sports.  The event honors athletes and personalities from around the nation for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, community service and overall commitment to sportsmanship.  Featuring major league superstars, local favorites and individuals with the most amazing and heartwarming stories, the event has become one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports.

The Good Sport Award was created by the Sports Commission Associates – a group of area young professionals who volunteer to assist the organization’s efforts.  This marks the third year the Associates will present the Good Sport Award at the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards.  Previous recipients include:

• Nicholas Kirkpatrick (2008):  While competing in the Endeavor Games – a regional track and field and swim meet for people with physical or visual disabilities – Nicholas, age 12, noticed an athlete from an opposing team was having problems with her racing chair.  Without the equipment, she would not be able to compete with her peers – an opportunity that children with disabilities do not get as often as able-bodied individuals.  Nicholas orchestrated a plan in which he raced to the finish line.  His dad then quickly transferred him from his equipment and ran Nicholas’ chair to the starting line for the girl to use.  Nick’s coach, Kelly Behlmann, explained, “For people not in chairs, consider after each of your track events you immediately take off your track shoes and let someone else run in them.  Then you have to adjust your footwear each time you begin your next race because the person who borrowed your shoes strings up your laces differently.”  Nick showed great selflessness and compassion for the girl, who like him, just wanted to race and be competitive with everyone else.

• Chad Riegel (2007):  After mistakenly hitting an opponent’s ball in the district golf tournament, the Ritenour High School golfer self-reported the error, which resulted in a two-stroke penalty.  His final score ended up being one stroke away from making the cut for the State tournament.  Although his honesty cost him a trip to State, his integrity and sportsmanship earned him the admiration of many.

The 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis.  For ticket information, call 314-345-5122 or visit www.nationalsportsmanshipawards.com.  The lineup of honorees will be announced in October.

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.
Its mission is to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.