For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
sports@stlouissports.org

CELEBRATING AMERICA'S BEST SPORTS:

CITIZENSHIP THROUGH SPORTS ALLIANCE AWARDS DINNER HIGHLIGHTS “SPORTSMANSHIP WEEKEND” IN ST. LOUIS

“GOOD SPORTS NITE” AND A “GOOD SPORTS DAY” COACHES SYMPOSIUM WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE AS THE SPORTS COMMISSION CELEBRATES
“AMERICA'S BEST SPORTS”

ST. LOUIS – June 2, 2005 – America's best sports city will be home to America's best sports this weekend. The St. Louis Sports Commission and Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) have joined forces to produce several activities to celebrate “Sportsmanship Weekend” in the Gateway City.

The highlight of the weekend is the 2005 CTSA Awards Dinner Saturday at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown. Seventeen of the nation's most respected athletes and administrators will be recognized, including: New Orleans Hornets forward P.J. Brown; Minnesota Lynx guard Teresa Edwards; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt; Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm; and St. Louis Blues center Doug Weight. Craig MacFarlane, known as the “world's greatest blind athlete,” will be the keynote speaker.

The CTSA Awards Dinner honors outstanding athletes who promote the values of sportsmanship, ethical play in athletic competition, citizenship and community service. Each year, the alliance presents the awards to honorees from each of its 12 member organizations, which include: Major League Baseball, the NCAA, NAIA, NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, and U.S. Olympic Committee. The CTSA is the largest coalition of professional and amateur athletics organizations in the United States focused on sportsmanship and building character through sport. The Awards Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. To purchase tickets, call 314-992-0686 or visit www.stlsports.org/sportsmanship.

On Friday, June 3, more than 200 youngsters from the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club will celebrate “Good Sports Nite.” Each year, the CTSA seeks to highlight issues or initiatives that advance the concept of citizenship through sport. “Good Sports Nite” features fun physical activities for kids and a short program for adults on the role of parents in athletics. Participants have a chance to experience character-building programs offered by the NCAA, NAIA, and USOC. “Good Sports Nite” takes place from 5:30 – 9 p.m.

The CTSA and the Sports Commission's Sports for Kids program put together an all-star lineup for the “Good Sports Day” Coaches Symposium on Saturday at Saint Louis University. The free event begins at 10 a.m. and provides youth and high school coaches, parents and administrators the opportunity to receive coaching tips from six Saint Louis University head coaches: Brad Soderberg and Shimmy Gray (men's and women's basketball); Anne Kordes (women's volleyball); Dan Donigan and Tim Champion (men's and women's soccer); and Bob Hughes (baseball). Participants will also receive instruction from nationally known sportsmanship and youth sports experts. Bruce Brown, national spokesperson for the NAIA Champions of Character Initiative, and Dan Gould, a 2005 CTSA Award recipient and director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, are featured speakers. For more information or to register for the symposium, call 314-992-0689 or visit www.stlsports.org/sportsmanship.

Through Sports for Kids, the Sports Commission makes a regional impact that goes beyond economics and visitor delivery. Just as the organization is known for successfully co-hosting major events like the recent NCAA Final Four and Wrestling Championships, the Sports Commission also aims to be synonymous with initiatives that enrich the lives of area children through sports. It is with this goal that Sports for Kids has become a leader in the community in educating volunteer youth coaches and parents about the value of sportsmanship, ultimately enhancing the experiences of young athletes on the playing field. Through its events, the Sports Commission has helped build St. Louis into America's best sports city. Now the organization hopes to make St. Louis home to America's best sports.

“SPORTSMANSHIP WEEKEND” IN ST. LOUIS
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS