| The
Gay Games are a multisport event organised every four years under
the auspices of the Federation
of Gay Games. They are the "Olympic
Games" of the gay and lesbian community. The most recent games were
those of Amsterdam in 1998 and most recently in Sydney
in 2002. The next games will take place in Montreal.
(Note: The final contract between the FGG and Montreal was not signed.
Games will take place in Montreal without the FGG licence, and the
FGG will be licencing another city.)
Since
the first games in San Francisco in 1982,
they have become one of the largest sporting events in the world,
bringing together several thousand athletes and even more spectators.
Male
and female athletes participate.
Athletes
of all ages participate.
Athletes
of all sexual orientations participate: homosexuals, bisexuals,
heterosexuals.
Athletes
of all levels participate: from the highest level of international
competition to real beginners. Performance is acknowledged and rewarded,
but participation comes first: athletes are encouraged to
do their best, whatever their level of skill and their experience
of competition.
|