Tamires Morena de Araujo rewarded for fair play gesture at the Fair Play International Committee Awards Gala

The UN designated May 19, 2025, as “World Fair Play Day,” commencing in 2025, to promote the practice of sport with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, and inclusion, and without discrimination.

To commemorate this historic event, the Fair Play International Committee convened a series of events that took place in Budapest, Hungary, including the traditional Awards Gala.

Among many dignitaries, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach, was in attendance and also received the Jean Borotra Award.

“It is with much appreciation and gratitude that I humbly accept the World Fair Play Career Award. On behalf of the entire Olympic Movement, I would like to thank the International Fair Play Committee for this tremendous honour. This award belongs to everyone in the Olympic Movement. Because without the support of so many around the globe, our Olympic mission to make the world a better place through sport and its values could never be accomplished. Fair play is at the heart of our Olympic mission. When Pierre de Coubertin founded the IOC, he saw fair play as fundamental to all sports — fair play is therefore one of our most cherished Olympic values,” said Dr. Bach.

Handball was also present at the traditional Awards Gala in Budapest, with Brazil line player Tamires Morena de Araújo Frossard receiving the “Pierre de Coubertin” Award in the category of “Act of Fair Play,” for her fair play display during a match between Brazil and Angola in the preliminary round of the women’s competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Brazil were already up by ten goals, the win and the quarter-finals berth out of the question, when Angola line player Albertina Kassoma fell down after missing a shot in the 36th minute. She received medical attention, but it was clear from the start that the injury would prevent her from returning to the match.

After she was examined by Angola’s team doctor, Kassoma finally stood up, without putting pressure on the injured knee, and tried to return to the bench with the help of Angola’s team doctor and Brazil’s goalkeeper, Gabriela Moreschi.

Yet the line player, one of the tallest at the Paris 2024 Olympics, at 1.85m, could not move. Enter Brazil’s fellow line player, Tamires Morena de Araújo Frossard, who carried Kassoma in her arms to the bench, with the 5,801 spectators in the South Paris Arena 6 frantically clapping their hands, recognising the fair-play gesture.

The two line players shared a brief talk in Portuguese – their native language – during the walk, before Kassoma received more medical attention on the bench, eventually leaving the arena with a huge bag of ice on her injured knee.

For de Araújo Frossard, it was quite simple. This was not the first time she met Kassoma on the court, as both play in the Romanian league, with the Brazil line player at Gloria Bistrița, while Kassoma features at Rapid București — teams which finished third and second respectively last season, building a strong rivalry.

While rivals on the court, it was not a question of sitting idle and not giving a helping hand. In fact, the two are friends.

"Albertina is a friend of mine for many years. We both play in Romania. There was no way I couldn't help her, because I knew it would be very difficult for her to leave the court. I have a special affection for her. I respect her work a lot,” said de Araújo Frossard.

The moment quickly became viral on social media, with the Brazilian line player being congratulated by a plethora of fellow players and fans — and now, her actions have been rewarded with the “Pierre de Coubertin” Award.

“Fair play isn’t just for the game — it’s a way of life. Sport is more than competition; it’s a chance to show empathy, respect, and solidarity, both on and off the field. I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported me in this journey. To me, it was simply a normal, human act — I never expected to receive such a special diploma for it. I’m truly grateful to everyone who shared, posted, and recognized something that, for me, was just the right thing to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” concluded the Brazil line player.

Credit main photo: Orbán-Katona Domonkos – Nemzeti Sportfejlesztési és Módszertani Intézet/Sports Institute of Hungary