Aug

8

Federation of Gay Games Announces Support of ‘Out Olympians’

Filed Under Celebs, Sports 

News from the Federation of Gay Games (FGG)San Francisco, CA –- As the Games of the XXIX Olympiad open in Beijing , the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) offers its best wishes to the International Olympic Committee for successful Games that will promote the ideals shared by the two organizations.

The FGG invites Olympians, past and present, to participate in Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, opening in late July 2010. FGG Co-president Emy Ritt, Paris, explains that “The Gay Games welcomes all sport and culture participants without regard to their sexual orientation, age or physical abilities. Participants can choose from cultural events, such as band or choral singing, or from 34 sports, including many that are also offered in the Olympics. In the Gay Games, participants of every ability come together in the spirit of ‘Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best™’.”

The FGG is also encouraging participation in a campaign to support a recently Out Olympian, Matthew Mitcham, an Australian diver. For the FGG, Mitcham is a symbol of all LGBT athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and of the hope that many more athletes will be able to compete as Out Olympians in future Games. FGG Co-President Sion O’Connor, Boston , says “The Federation is hoping that thousands of messages of support will be sent to Matthew as a sign of appreciation of all out athletes who practice sport at every level.”

The FGG wants to also salute the five other publicly gay Olympians in Beijing: Gay Games Ambassador Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling), Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing), Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg (Norway, handball and a lesbian couple) and Natasha Kai (USA, soccer).

The Gay Games were founded in 1982 by an Olympic decathlete, Dr. Tom Waddell, a member of the US track team at the 1968 Olympics. Originally named the “Gay Olympic Games,” the Gay Games have become one of the largest multi-sport events in the world, bringing together some 10,000 athletes and 2,000 artists every four years.

Among the many Gay Games Ambassadors, the FGG counts several former Olympic athletes, including Judith Arndt (cycling, Germany ), Michelle Ferris (cycling, Australia), and Petra Roessner (cycling, Germany), Bruce Hayes (swimming, USA), Greg Louganis (diving, USA), Leigh-Ann Naidoo (beach volleyball, South Africa), and Ji Wallace (trampoline, Australia).

For information on how to participate in or to sponsor Gay Games VIII, visit: www.games-cologne.com.

For information about the Federation of Gay Games, go to: www.gaygames.org

Related Link: - Beijing 2008

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