Bringing You the Gay Games

A Brief Look Back

In 1980, Dr. Tom Waddell, a 1968 Olympic decathlete, led a group of San Francisco residents including Mark Brown and Paul Mart in conceiving the event now known as the Gay Games. Tom dreamed of a sporting event based on the philosophy that "doing one's personal best should be the paramount goal in any athletic endeavor."

San Francisco Arts & Athletics (SFAA) was incorporated and supervised the logistics of both Gay Games I and II. Tom Waddell lost his battle with AIDS and died in July 1987, less than a year after Gay Games II, but his legacy was assured as the inspiration for future Gay Games. The SFAA board of directors, which included Tom's widow Sara Waddell Lewinstein, took steps to enlarge its membership beyond the Bay Area and in 1989 changed its name to the Federation of Gay Games.

The Federation Today

The Federation of Gay Games perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and safeguards its founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best™. An all-volunteer organisation, the Federation is made up of individuals and organisations representing four continents. The Federation consists of a board of directors and an assembly of organisations. Currently, all of the board members belong to one of the organisations in the assembly. Assembly organisations govern single and/or multiple sport or cultural disciplines, and they can be local, national or international in scope. The member organisations are more than a list of groups that support the Gay Games — their delegates are actively involved in the Federation's work and decision-making. All are dedicated to ensuring the continuation of the Gay Games' 25 year history of inspiration and achievement.

Site Selection — A key task of the Federation is the selection of future Gay Games sites, a process that has become increasingly competitive since it was announced in 1990 that New York would host Gay Games IV. The Federation has resolved that the Gay Games should be a financially viable community-based event, focusing on the core sport and cultural activities that the Gay Games was founded to showcase. In 2005, the Federation selected Cologne as the site for Gay Games VIII among excellent bids from Johannesburg and Paris. The site selection process for Gay Games IX in 2014 will begin in 2008 with final selection to take place in late 2009. For more information, contact info@gaygames.org.

Outreach — The Federation administers scholarship funds on behalf of estates with the aim of assisting a number of individuals to attend each Gay Games. Board meetings have taken the Federation around the world to cities such as Atlanta, Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Denver, Johannesburg, Lyon, Montréal, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Sydney, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. The annual meetings regularly bring representatives from new and developing clubs and regions to share organising experiences with board members. A "Gay Games Ambassadors" program was begun in 2002 whereby prominent athletes, artists and other individuals publicise the Gay Games. The charter Gay Games Ambassadors were 1984 Olympic gold medal swimmer Bruce Hayes, former U.S. Ambassador James Hormel, actress Judith Light, and photographer Tom Bianchi. (The full list of our distinguished Ambassadors is at http://www.gaygames.com/en/participants/ambassadors.) Press releases about the Federation and the Gay Games are distributed several times a year to international media outlets. Brochures are available at this Web site with tips about organising local and international sports groups.

Administration — As the Gay Games movement has grown, so has the task of keeping it going between events. The Federation consults closely with each host to pass on knowledge gained at previous Gay Games. With directors and member organisations spread around the world, e-mail is our main communications tool, but telephone conferences and in-person meetings are irreplaceable. Legal matters, particularly trademark issues, have become increasingly complex and expensive. Committees governing sports, culture, communications, outreach and site selection always have full agendas and welcome new members with expertise and ideas.

Web Site — Send us your Gay Games story! You can help by sending us stories and pictures documenting your experiences in Chicago, Sydney, Amsterdam, New York, Vancouver and San Francisco to info@gaygames.org. The Federation is researching historical documents eventually to provide worldwide access to Gay Games results and photos. Results from Gay Games I-VI are available at http://www.gaygames.com/en/participants/results. Chicago's results are available at http://www.gaygameschicago.org/sports/home.php

Sponsorship/Donations — Special arrangements can be made for sponsors wishing to pursue an ongoing relationship with the Federation. Funds may be designated for specific purposes, including support of a Gay Games host organisation. Contact the Federation's Executive Committee through info@gaygames.org. As the Federation is located in San Francisco, U.S. citizens can make tax-deductible donations.

The Tom Waddell Award — The Tom Waddell Award for Outstanding Gay Games Participation is presented by the Federation of Gay Games every four years to individuals who have demonstrated a history of outstanding service in the arts, athletics, or volunteerism. The Federation encourages nominations from all countries. Criteria include: inspiring pride through leadership qualities; devoting energy to the success of the Gay Games without vainglory; embodying the standards of commitment, selflessness and love of humanity as set by the late Dr. Tom Waddell. Further information can be found at http://www.gaygames.com/en/federation/committees/awards.htm.

The Federation of Gay Games Board of Directors 2007-2008

Sion O'Connor, Emy Ritt — Co-Presidents
Emy Ritt — Vice President, Host Relations*
Elizabeth Valenti — Vice President, Operations
Paul Oostenbrug — Vice President, Membership
Teresa Galetti — Vice President, Governance
Kate Rowe — Female Vice President, Diversity
Alan Lessik — Treasurer
Charles King — Secretary
   Officers above are members of the Executive Committee.

Shane Blakebrough — Officer of International Development
Adelina Santiago, Marc Naimark — Officers of Sport
Ann Simonson — Officer of Culture
Doug Litwin — Officer of Marketing
Kelly Stevens — Officer of Communications
Brent Minor — Officer of Development
Jon Baldan — Officer of Technology
Darl Schaaff — Officer of Site Selection
Robby Davis — Officer of Ceremonies

* Certain board positions can be doubled under current guidelines.

Assembly Member Organisations

Honorary Life Members

In Memoriam

The Federation remembers with gratitude the following deceased board members of San Francisco Arts & Athletics and the Federation of Gay Games: Zohn Artman, Thierry Bettex, Ivan Bussens*, Peg Grey*, Bart Hopple, Lloyd Jenkins, Ron Keel, Jim Nickoff, Herb King*, Darrill Loberg, Peter Middendorf, Al Schaaf, Rikki Streicher, Tom Waddell, Bob Weaver, Mary C. Dunlap and Lawrence Wilson. *Also accorded Honorary Life Member status for their service to the Federation.

Click to read: The concept and purpose of the Federation.