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COUNTDOWN TO GAY GAMES VII GETS UNDERWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO Over 70 people attended the party, many of whom represented teams in such sports as softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and hockey. City supervisor Bevan Duffy attended and gave an inspiring speech. Nearly $800 was raised during the raffle, and prizes included gift certificates from many local merchants and restaurants, and two round-trip tickets from Jet Blue Airways. The new uniform design was a big hit at the party and many orders were taken on the spot. Look for Team San Francisco to have its usual commanding and dashing presence at the Chicago Gay Games in less than one year.
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2010 GAY GAMES VIII SITE INSPECTORS VISITING CANDIDATE CITIES Johannesburg has been the first city visited, from 24-26 August. Cologne's inspection dates are 29-31 August, followed by Paris from 2-4 September. ” The site inspection tour is one of the most important parts of the Gay Games bidding process”, said Darl Schaaff, co-president of the FGG Site Selection Committee and one of the three inspectors. “Our site team arrives in each city well prepared with specific questions from the Federation board that have been collected since we received the candidates’ bid books five months ago.” Schaaff praised the 2010 bidding groups, each of whom is bidding for the first time but represents a city well-known to the FGG board and that has sent many of its citizens to past Gay Games.
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FRENCH SAILORS PREPARE FOR CHICAGO 2006
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qSPORT - NEW LGBT SPORTS GROUP IN CROATIA
- OLYMPIC JUMPER JI WALLACE HOSTS SYDNEY FUNDRAISING DINNER
After national and international successes, Ji Wallace, silver medallist in trampoline at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, was back in Sydney in his newly appointed role as an ambassador for the Gay Games. Ji is the first Gay Games Ambassador from Australia. Ji came out publicly as gay this past April although he had been out to family and friends for many years. On Tuesday he was helping Team Sydney raise money from diners’ pockets. He was ably assisted by the emcee for the evening, Miss DollyWood. Together they raised over AUD$600 for the Federation of Gay Games Scholarship Fund by auctioning a jersey signed by the Australian netball team and Ji’s autograph on various pictures. Additional funds raised that evening will support Team Sydney’s delegation to the Federation’s annual meeting this November. Most FGG annual meetings are held in the northern hemisphere, making attendance from Australia very expensive. Some years the funds have simply not been available. Attendance this year is a priority for Team Sydney because the site for Gay Games VIII in 2010 will be selected from among Cologne, Johannesburg and Paris. Ji was pleased to lend his star power to help Team Sydney cover the cost of its delegates to the meeting. While renewing his trampoline-training program with sights set on Beijing in 2008, Ji is enthusiastic about supporting the Gay Games. "I truly appreciate the symbolism of a multi-sport event – the opening ceremony, what it means to be there and to compete", he said. "The Gay Games can be anyone's Olympics and anyone's dream. The opportunity to compete in Chicago next year can be anyone's life-changing moment". Ji said that, although winning medals is great, “to compete in a prestigious event and compete next to your friends and your team-mates” is what is “truly life changing”. He said he is a better man for chasing his dreams and members of the LGBT community can experience the same feeling at the Gay Games. Ji also remembers watching the IOC announcement of the 2000 Olympic host and his excitement hearing that it would be Sydney. He said, “I am watching with anticipation who will be crowned the host for the 2010 Gay Games”. “ Team Sydney has a long history of support for these games and was proud to bring Gay Games VI to Sydney in 2002”, said David Randall, board member. “Team Sydney is grateful for Ji’s assistance raising money for the scholarship fund and so that our delegates can be at the annual meeting in person to plan the Federation’s long-range direction and improve future Gay Games”. - LEIGH-ANN NAIDOO, SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, BECOMES GAY GAMES AMBASSADOR
Leigh-Ann is currently living and training in Chicago while her partner, Kelly Gillespie, pursues a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Chicago. Leigh-Ann said she was pleasantly surprised at how popular beach volleyball is in Chicago and has been a constant presence on the courts along Lake Michigan this year, comparing them favourably to the world-famous sand courts back home in Cape Town. " Beach volleyball has grown incredibly in the last ten years and is making its Gay Games debut next year in Chicago, so I'm very happy to be a spokesperson to help promote next year's competition," Naidoo said. "But, really, I'd support the Gay Games anyway because it's been a wonderful, life-changing event for thousands of people in the LGBT community and their friends." As Gay Games Ambassadors, Leigh-Ann and Ji have joined an international
group of prominent individuals supporting the goals and principles
of the quadrennial Gay Games. The Gay Games Ambassadors now include
actor Judith Light, Olympic gold medal swimmer Bruce Hayes, photographer
Tom Bianchi, former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg James Hormel, cycling
champions Petra Rössner and Judith Arndt, tennis legend Billie
Jean King, rock star Melissa Etheridge, actor/director Amanda Bearse,
powerlifter Chris Morgan, former U.S. professional baseball player
Billy Bean, former U.S. professional football players Dave Kopay
and Esera Tuaolo, and champion figure skater Rudy Galindo. |
GAY GAMES
IN YOUR HOUSE ON 19 SEPTEMBER! The first Federation of Gay Games House Parties will be held on Monday, September 19, 2005 and we hope that you will join us! It marks 300 Days until the start of Gay Games VII in Chicago. House Parties are an easy and low-key way to help raise funds and visibility for the Federation, so that the important work of planning, oversight, scholarships, and outreach (among other things) are done throughout the year. While the Gay Games happen only once every four years, the work of the Federation is a year-round responsibility. Many people do not realise that the Federation is an all-volunteer organisation. Directors on the board pay the cost of their own attendance at annual meetings. Operating funds come from such sources as private donations, dues, and license fees from organisations hosting the Gay Games. While the Federation is working toward the day when we can open a permanent office and hire staff so that we can offer more services to our constituents, we are not there yet. For many on our board, volunteer work for the FGG is practically a full-time job. We need YOU to host a House Party for us. The concept is really quite simple: On September 19, invite friends and teammates over for a party asking each of them for a minimal donation of $25. At a specified time, all the parties will be linked on a conference call. It will be a great way to build enthusiasm for the Gay Games as well as help a great cause that we all believe in. Please let Brent Minor know if you are interested in hosting a House
Party or with any questions you might have. Contact him at Even if September 19 is not a convenient date, you can still participate, so let us hear from you. If we all pitch in a little, we can accomplish a lot.
GAY GAMES VII SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DETAILS IN NEXT ISSUE Part of the outreach legacy of previous Gay Games has been to offer financial assistance for those otherwise unable to participate. For two decades, Gay Games scholarship programs have brought people together, changing lives and creating stronger bonds within the LGBT community through sport and culture. Since Gay Games IV in 1994, more than 700 people from all corners of the world have qualified for scholarships. The Federation and the Chicago hosts of Gay Games VII are now finishing plans for the 2006 Gay Games Scholarship Program, and details of the application process will be announced on each group's Web site soon. We'll also print more details in the next issue of Participate! |
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On
14 July, Team San Francisco held a big "Countdown to the Gay
Games" party at the glamorous Metro Bar in the heart of the
Castro neighborhood. The Team SF board members hosted numerous athletes
and their friends, unveiled designs for the new Team Uniforms, enjoyed
food & drink, and held a fun raffle.
Sanford
Smith (left) of Cheer San Francisco, and Michelle Mateychuk
of the San Francisco Earthquakes hockey team pose in front
of photos of the new team uniform designs.
Twenty-eight
sailors from the Paris-based sailing club VCL, Voile et Croisiere
en Liberte, are training rigorously for Chicago 2006. During the
past year, several training weekends have been held in Normandy,
where the French teams practiced racing tactics in 8-metre First
8 boats. Martial Haeffelin, chief regatta organizer for VCL, was
also a chief contributor to and a winning skipper of the Paris 2005
regatta held near Paris in June. Marianne Faudi, VCL President, will
be with team members in Berlin from 29-31 July to participate in
the 5th annual 
VCL members
enjoying their training weekend
qSPORT was established
to support the development of LGBT sports activities for the LGBT
sports community in Croatia and southeastern Europe, as well as to
present a unique perspective on sports within international LGBT
organisations. qSport provides information and services for local
groups and individuals looking to participate in sports activities,
international LGBT sports events and organisations. Volleyball is
the first team to organise with qSPORT and to take part in international
competitions. The team meets on a weekly basis for experienced players
of B-level and higher. In the near future, there may also be a beginners
group and informal beach volleyball tournaments. Congratulations,
qSPORT !
