The Citizenship Through Sports Alliance is a joint effort by the school-college-Olympic community and professional sports leagues to promote the values of citizenship that are
realized through sportsmanship and ethical play in athletics. The United States Olympic Committee is one of 10 sport organizations in the alliance, which seeks to generate a sports culture that supports those values necessary to teach and learn respect for self and respect
for others. CTSA believes that the collaboration of these organizations can positively affect
the sports culture in the future.

The CTSA is based in Leawood, Kan., and includes the USOC, the NCAA, Major League Baseball, the NAIA, the NBA, the WNBA, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the NFL, the NHL and the National Junior College Athletic Association. The alliance was formed because of each organization's concern regarding the current sports culture. Alliance members have noted a worrisome decline in sportsmanship and ethical conduct in athletics, a deterioration that permeates sports competition from the youth leagues to the professional leagues.

The CTSA is uniquely qualified to address the sportsmanship issues because it comprises the largest sports partnership to date. Alliance programming includes a national awareness campaign, "Focus on Respect;" development of citizenship curricula for high schools and middle schools; an annual conference focusing on citizenship and sportsmanship issues, including presentation of the CTSA Awards to recognize athletes who demonstrate citizenship, sportsmanship and community service; and building collaborations with individuals, local communities and organizations interested in this initiative. The CTSA held its 2000 awards program in Arlington, Va., and honored 12 award recipients who were being recognized for their commitment to the spirit of sportsmanship and ethical play. The 2000 CTSA program also included a forum on how to conquer drug abuse in sports.

The United States Olympic Committee and the other alliance members take an active role in the promotion of the CTSA initiatives through financial contributions for programs, participation on CTSA boards and attendance at CTSA events.

Visit sportsmanship.org online.