Turkish athlete Elvan Abeylegesse, Eritrea athletics coach Ammanuel Merkorios and Italian football coach Giuseppe Pillon were honored by the International Fair Play Committee on Friday.

After Merkorios tried unsuccessfully to help, Abeylegesse lent Ethiopian runner Meselech Melkamu a pair of spikes when Melkamu forgot hers at a hotel and would have been unable to compete in the 10,000 meters at last year's world championships in Berlin. Melkamu came second, while Abeylegesse failed to finish.

The committee said Merkorios' efforts to help Melkamu _ he tried giving her spikes from one of his athletes, but they were too big _ were noteworthy because of the bad relations between their countries. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war but tensions and border feuds persist.

For her part, Ethiopia-born Abeylegesse competes for Turkey, making her "a controversial figure in the eyes of the Ethiopian team," the committee said.

Abeylegesse won silver medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Ascoli coach Pillon told his team to allow opponents Regina to score in an effort to restore order after a fight broke out over a questionable goal by his team. Ascoli, who along with Reggina are battling relegation from Italy's second tier, lost the match 3-1.

Pillon was held responsible for the loss by furious Ascoli fans and the local press.

"Pillon, however, responded courageously to the attacks by denouncing the belligerent atmosphere that dominates and undermines Italian football and the lack of good sportsmanship," the committee said.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday in the southern Hungarian city of Pecs, a 2010 European Capital of Culture.