This alone proves that it is not a fashionable expression but a phrase that has evolved over many years, whose meaning has not changed, but which has taken on a new dimension in recent decades. 

Although most people associate it with sport, fair play exists not only on the sports field, but also in civil life. One only has to look back at the COVID-19 period of the last two years, where people have selflessly helped their fellow human beings.  

The basis and core values of fair play are respect, friendship, equality, integrity, solidarity, tolerance, care, excellence, joy, team spirit and, of course, sport without doping and with fair competition. 

But to be familiar with these ideas, you must have heard them at some point in your life, you must have encountered them at school, at training, at competitions. The younger you hear them, the more likely you are to reflect on them, accept them and take them for granted.  

Teaching is very important, but it is not necessarily enough. Theories need to be repeated, we need to encounter them in different situations, we need to see them in real life and learn how they work, so that they are automatically incorporated into our lives.

Deep down, everyone is born a fair player, and most of us live our lives in the spirit of it. You do not always have to think of extra deeds, just a pencil on loan at school, or a seat handed to an elderly person on a crowded bus is enough, small acts that are a natural part of a better world.  

In 1963, several international sport and sport-related organisations recognised it was time to create a separate organisation with a sole remit to promote the values of fair play. 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Sports Press Association, International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the International Federations of Basketball (FIBA), Football, Rugby and Wrestling established the International Committee for the Organization of the Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Awards.  

Jean Borotra, one of the legendary four French tennis players in the 1920s nicknamed "The Four Musketeers" was elected the first President, representing ICSSPE.

FIFA's Sir Stanely Rous and William Jones of FIBA were elected vice-presidents, and Jacques Ferran of France was appointed general secretary.  

On January 29 1965, the inaugural World Fair Play Awards Ceremony was held and the first Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy was awarded to an Italian bobsleigh competitor Eugenio Monti for his remarkable act at the Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games in 1964. 

During the two-man bobsleigh final, he sat in first, with only Tony Nash of Britian and his partner able to surpass him. Before Nash started his run, Monti realised he had broken a part of his sled and without hesitation detached the same part from his own vehicle and lent it to his rivals, who went on to record the winning time and won the gold medal. 

In 1973, the organisation decided to change its name to the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP).

Since then, the CIFP has continued its promotional work. Each year, it presents the World Fair Play Award to deserving recipients, and special awards to individuals who have lived and worked in the spirit of fair play values and those who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of fair play. 

Last but not least the Fair Play Trophy for the Youth – Under the Auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President - is to recognise junior athletes who are committed to fair play and who demonstrate and embody fair play spirit through their acts on and off the sporting field.  

Over the past decades, we have presented numerous awards to well-known personalities like Pete Sampras, Bobby Charlton, Javier Zanetti, Dara Torres, Lord Sebastian Coe, Edwin Moses and Sergey Bubka.  

At the end of each year, we publish a call for applications to which anyone from around the world can submit a proposal. The Awards Ceremony is a celebration of fair play, with a ceremonial awards gala. Details of this year’s awards can be found here. 

The CIFP also works with a wide range of organisations, including the IOC, International University Sports Federations, International School Sport Federation, International World Games Association, UNESCO and several International Federations and partners. 

We participate in Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Universiades, School Sport Games, World and European Championships. 

The most important part of our work is to meet athletes, especially younger ones, coaches and sport leaders in person. We run a booth at competitions; we put out a fair play call for specific competitions, such as the Olympic Games, Universiade, World Athletics Championships and World Fencing Championships. 

Of course, we reflect on what is happening in the world, as we did this year when we rewarded the Danish National Football Team for their outstanding performance after Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest. 

We are constantly looking for opportunities to work in partnership with International Federations and Organising Committees. We have made great progress in this area in recent years and we hope that more and more organisations will recognize the importance of the presence of the International Fair Play Committee.  

In 2020, the CIFP together with the European Fair Play Movement, Panathlon International and Panathlon Wallonia-Brussels announced that World Fair Play Day will be held on September 7 each year. This is a day to celebrate and raise awareness of fair play around the world.

It’s great to see that social media is full of posts commemorating World Fair Play Day, the highlight of which was a video published by French football club Paris Saint-Germain, which can be seen here. 

It is confirmation that the world is not indifferent and is paying attention to positive values. The highlight of this year’s campaign was the PSG French Club video, which has been viewed by millions of people.  

A traditional organisation like the CIFP has to make sure it keeps up with the times, especially young people. 

We need to reach them, so we launched various marketing promotional campaigns. We are active in the online space and on social media. 

For example, because of COVID-19, we have launched drawing and painting competitions for the youngest children for the last two years, which attracted nearly 300 entries in the first year and 750 entries this year from all over the world. 

The novel competition was similarly successful.  

This year, we planted our first fair play trees, in recognition of the fact that social responsibility and environmental protection are core values of fair play. We are expanding this campaign in 2022 and hope to have fair play trees all over the world.  

The CIFP is an open organisation, meaning any organisation or individual can join us if they recognise the values of fair play and are willing to take action to support our work. Anyone can apply and we welcome you to become a member, which you can do here. 

Ultimately, then, everyone can be a fair player. Because fair play is not a theory. It is an attitude that manifests itself in behaviour. Everyone wins with fair play.