Stanisavljevic runner-up behind rugby's Umaga

Milos Stanisavljevic obtained a prestigious result on Tuesday night when he was declared a runner-up in Category A of the International Fair Play Award 2004.

Stanisavljevic was awarded an Honorary International Diploma as the Category A was topped by rugby's Tana Umaga, the popular New Zealand centre.

Stanisavljevic, Malta's youth national handball team coach, was shortlisted among the six finalists from over 100 nominations.

His Fair Play act goes back to his participation during the EHF Challenge Trophy that was played in Malta a year ago. During a decisive play-off, the Yugoslav-born handball player informed the referee that his shot had not gone in after the official awarded Malta a goal.

Undoubtedly, this was a great achievement not only for Stanisavljevic but for Maltese sport in general.

The ceremony on Tuesday was held in Athens and was presided by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

The International Committee for Fair Play awarded Umaga the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for Fair Play for going to the aid of opponent Colin Charvis during a test match between New Zealand and Wales in Hamilton last year.

While play continued, Charvis had been knocked unconscious by a tackle. Umaga stopped to attend to the Welsh captain and put him in the recovery position.

Through its 40-year history, the International Committee has been able to honour over 500 commendable acts and careers of fair play.

Award winners included Arthur Ashe, Prince Albert of Monaco, Bobby Charlton, Emil Zatopek, Stefan Edberg, Sergey Bubka, Nelson Mandela and Martina Navratilova.

The International Committee for Fair Play was founded with the leadership of the UNESCO, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) in 1963.

Today, it is an international non-governmental organisation recognised by the United Nations and the IOC.

Its objective is the worldwide defence and promotion of Fair Play by working together with international and national organisations involved in sports and education, in particularly with athletes, children, adolescents and those in charge of training them - coaches, teachers and trainers.

Meanwhile, Stanisavljevic was back to work yesterday as he continues the national team's build-up to next week's Malta International Tournament.

The Malta youth team plays against DR Congo, England, Nigeria and the United States at the University Sports Complex.