Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is traditional value in sports and competition.  It means playing clean and handling both victory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity.Kidshealth.org, "Sportsmanship"; retrieved 2012-8-3.

Sportsmanship is generally understood to include
 playing fair
 following the rules of the game
 respecting the judgment of referees and officials
 treating opponents with respect

The ideal of sportsmanship argues that "it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game".Kendrick, Carleton, "Teaching Good Sportsmanship," FamilyEducation.com; retrieved 2012-8-3.

Sportsmanship can be different  depending on the game itself or the culture of the group. For example, in the sport of cricket, a player will sometimes acknowledge that he is out by walking off the field, even though the umpires (game officials) had thought that he was not out. In another example, a tennis player who sees a ball go in but is called out by the linesperson could concede the point or suggest the opponent make a challenge, as was the case with professional tennis player Jack Sock on at least two occasions.

Olympic Games
In the context of the Olympic Games, athletes are expected to do their best.Oktavinanda, Pramudya A.  "The Olympic Scandal: Sportsmanship Issue or Poor Strategy?" Jakarta Globe (Indonesia). August 3, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-3. Otherwise, they would go against the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger".Zhu Yuan.  "Sportsmanship more important," China Daily (PRC). 3 August 2012; retrieved 2012-8-3.

Select examples of good sportsmanship 
 Eugenio Monti in the bobsleigh at the 1964 Winter Olympics at InnsbruckSportsReference.com (SR/Olympics), "Eugenio Moni" ; retrieved 2012-8-3.
 Lawrence Lemieux in sailing at the 1988 Summer Olympics at Seoul "Lemieux's sportsmanship still recognized,"  Edmonton Journal (Canada). March 13, 2008; retrieved 2012-8-3.
 Shin Lam in fencing at the 2012 Summer Olympics at London Fencing's Shin Lam offered 'consolation prize' following display of sportsmanship," Independent (UK). 31 July 2012; retrieved 2012-8-3.

Select examples of bad sportsmanship
In the London Olympics, some athletes attempted to lose their badminton matches,Cole, Cam.  "Expelled Olympic badminton players win gold for lack of subtlety,"  National Post (Canada). August 1, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-3. including
 Tian Qing, Zhao Yunlei, Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of ChinaLeicester, John.  "Sportsmanship smashed just like a shuttlecock," Peoria Journal Star (US). August 1, 2012; excerpt, "Between the Olympic ideal and the Olympic reality is a trap that eight badminton players fell into at London 2012. They didn’t cheat. Instead, they tried to win — by deliberately trying to lose"; retrieved 2012-8-3. 
 Jung Kyung-eun, Kim Ha-na, Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung of South Korea
 Greysia Polii and Meilana Jauhari of Indonesiaз

Related pages
 Pierre de Coubertin medal
 Sportsperson
 Unsportsmanlike conduct

References

Category:Sports