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It's Not The Winning That Counts

On sale

6th May 2010

Price: £10.99

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Selected: ebook / ISBN-13: 9780748111688

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From Ancient Greece to the Beijing Olympics, sport has delivered thrilling victories and gut-wrenching defeats, but moments of good sportsmanship are increasingly rare. Is chivalry dead? Or have rumours of its demise been exaggerated?

Whether displayed by an Australian sculler or an Egyptian judoka, sportsmanship has come in many guises. It’s Not the Winning that Counts celebrates the Boy’s Own heroism of yachtsman Pete Goss’s mercy dash across the Southern Ocean to rescue a capsized French rival; recalls the high ideals of the gentleman-amateurs of the Corinthian Football Club; salutes Freddie Flintoff, hero of the 2005 Ashes, commiserating with an opponent before celebrating with team-mates; and takes its hat off to Jack Nicklaus, conceding a two-foot putt on the final green of the 1969 Ryder Cup. At its best, sportsmanship has reverberated around the world – from German athlete Lutz Long publicly befriending the black American runner Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics to Russian chess player Boris Spassky conducting himself impeccably during his Cold War showdown with Bobby Fischer.

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Reviews

DAILY MAIL
** 'Almost impossible to read this book without wiping away a manly tear. A joy - a simple but brilliant idea executed with great skill and judgement
MAIL ON SUNDAY
** 'A splendid narrative. Take along Max Davidson's charming book next time you go to a sporting event. I guarantee it will warm you on the wettest day and in the chilliest stadium
Ed Smith,SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, Book of the Week
** 'Sports fans will be delighted . . . elegant and erudite, strikes a blow for the idea that sport can elevate human character