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www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
Gay Games in Cologne welcome over 10,000 competitors
German city hosts gay and lesbian athletes from more than 70
countries for eighth quadrennial event
Around 10,000 gay and lesbian athletes from around the globe descended on the
western German city of Cologne on July 30th to participate in the international Gay
Games.
Entrants from more than 70 countries are taking part in an eclectic mix of events
including football, transgender ballroom dancing and cheerleading. A cultural
programme includes art exhibitions, choir concerts and film screenings.
Many of the participants have adopted false identities because of fears that they will be
persecuted on their return home.
"We want to demonstrate that the exclusion of gays and lesbians, especially in the
sporting world, has to end," said Thorsten Moeck, of the organisation committee.
"Among the represented countries are plenty in which it's still an absolute taboo to out
yourself."
While most participants come from Germany and the US, the list of countries
Gay Games in Cologne welcome over 10,000 competitors
German city hosts gay and lesbian athletes from more than 70
countries for eighth quadrennial event
Around 10,000 gay and lesbian athletes from around the globe descended on the
western German city of Cologne on July 30th to participate in the international Gay
Games.
Entrants from more than 70 countries are taking part in an eclectic mix of events
including football, transgender ballroom dancing and cheerleading. A cultural
programme includes art exhibitions, choir concerts and film screenings.
Many of the participants have adopted false identities because of fears that they will be
persecuted on their return home.
"We want to demonstrate that the exclusion of gays and lesbians, especially in the
sporting world, has to end," said Thorsten Moeck, of the organisation committee.
"Among the represented countries are plenty in which it's still an absolute taboo to out
yourself."
While most participants come from Germany and the US, the list of countries
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represented will also include Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico
and Zimbabwe.
Moeck said for many, including Mexico's gay soccer team, whose identities have been
deliberately kept secret, it would be a "unique opportunity" to be surrounded by fellow
gays and lesbians.
Eastern European sportsmen and women, from countries where discrimination is
more or less systematic, have this year been invited to the event for free.
The Gay Games first started in San Francisco in 1982 and takes place every four
and Zimbabwe.
Moeck said for many, including Mexico's gay soccer team, whose identities have been
deliberately kept secret, it would be a "unique opportunity" to be surrounded by fellow
gays and lesbians.
Eastern European sportsmen and women, from countries where discrimination is
more or less systematic, have this year been invited to the event for free.
The Gay Games first started in San Francisco in 1982 and takes place every four
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years. Its founding father was the openly gay decathlete Tom Waddell, who died of Aids
in 1987.
This year's host city is home to Europe's largest gay and lesbian sport club, SC Janus.
The Australian Olympic gymnast Matthew Mitcham, who won a gold medal at the Beijing
Olympics in 2008 and is one of the few major athletes to have ever come out, will open
the event.
"This event brings gay and lesbian life onto the soccer pitch, the athletics track
in 1987.
This year's host city is home to Europe's largest gay and lesbian sport club, SC Janus.
The Australian Olympic gymnast Matthew Mitcham, who won a gold medal at the Beijing
Olympics in 2008 and is one of the few major athletes to have ever come out, will open
the event.
"This event brings gay and lesbian life onto the soccer pitch, the athletics track
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and into the swimming pool," he said. "This is a great opportunity for all gays and
lesbians to show the world that as a community we're not a bunch of stereotypes."
The event has been overshadowed by events at last week's Love Parade festival, in the
nearby city of Duisburg, in which 21 people were trampled to death and which has led to
calls for tighter safety procedures at large-scale events in Germany.
Kate Connolly & Guardian.co.uk contributed to this article.
For more info: www.gaygames.com
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
lesbians to show the world that as a community we're not a bunch of stereotypes."
The event has been overshadowed by events at last week's Love Parade festival, in the
nearby city of Duisburg, in which 21 people were trampled to death and which has led to
calls for tighter safety procedures at large-scale events in Germany.
Kate Connolly & Guardian.co.uk contributed to this article.
For more info: www.gaygames.com
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source