BRUSSELS – The International Fair Play Committee’s (CIFP) World Fair Play Awards took place in the splendid setting of the Egmont Palace in the capital city of Belgium on 17 November. This was the 54th year CIFP presented its awards.
In 2017, the two International Sport Federations signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The two have a long-standing cooperation, with the Committee in attendance to all Universiades since 2005 and with FISU Vice-President Leopold Senghor sitting on the CIFP board.
“We both share the same ideals about the values of Fair Play, and we are also committed to University Sports,” CIFP President Dr. Jeno Kamuti said during the signing. “We have always talked about promoting Fair Play as much as we can among university athletes.”
On 17 November, CIFP presented the Jean Borotra Trophy to Comte Jacques Rogge. Mr. Rogge was President of International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 – 2013. Since then, Mr. Rogge has been the IOC’s Honorary President.
Upon receiving the award a visibly emotional Jacques Rogge said, “There are two phrases that I have always disliked. Nice guys finish last and that Winning in sport is not the most important thing, but the only thing”. Mr. Rogge also praised the work of the fair play committee and called for the intensification of its efforts.
FISU Vice President Leopold Senghor (SEN) with 2017 Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy recipient Dr. Jorge Rodriguez of Argentina
The gala numbered two-hundred-plus attendees and included Belgium’s First Deputy Prime Minister Didiers Reynders. A highly emotive, personalized video message from Dr. Thomas Bach, current IOC President, was also shared.
At its Council meeting the following day, the fair play committee also admitted two new Members: HSH The Princess Nora of Lichtenstein and Mr. David C. Ulich, President of the Foundation for Global Sports Development. The CIFP Council also renamed its Youth Fair Play award to the “Jacques Rogge Fair Play Trophy for The Youth” award.
More about the International Fair Play Committee: CIFP is an IOC-recognized organization created in 1963 to promote the ideals of fair play on the sports field and beyond. CIFP recognizes winners in four categories: the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for an Act of Fair Play, the Jean Borotra Trophy for a Career of Fair Play, the Willi Daume Trophy for Promotion of Fair Play, and the recently added Fair Play Trophy for the Youth. Apart from its traditional award events, it promotes educational initiatives aimed at the youth, including at the Youth Olympic Games and the FISU World University Games. For further information please contact www.fairplayinternational.org or secretarygeneral@fairplayinternational.org