Harvard Athletics | 1,962 followers on LinkedIn. Principled Leadership | Academic Integration | Competitive Excellence | Education Through Athletics Athletic participation helps our students grow, learn, and enjoy themselves while they use and develop their personal, physical, and intellectual skills. Harvard values the lessons that have long been taught by athletic participation: the pursuit of excellence through personal development and teamwork, ethical and responsible behavior on the field and off, adherence to the spirit of rules as well as to their letter, leadership and strength of character, and sportsmanship – respect for one's opponents, acceptance of victory with humility, and acknowledgment of defeat with grace. In teaching these lessons to its students, Harvard instills habits that will lead students to better and healthier lives.