The Dr. Tom Waddell Trophy is the symbol of the Tom Waddell Award, the highest honour accorded by the Federation of Gay Games. It is awarded every four years at Opening Ceremony of the Gay Games to one man and one woman with a history of service to the Gay Games in the arts, athletics, and/or volunteerism.After a long journey from Chicago, host of Gay Games VII, the Trophy has now reached Cologne. At a festive ceremony during the final official session of the Annual Meeting, custody was officially transferred to host organization Games Cologne until the end of Gay Games VIII on 7 August 2009.
Bearing the Trophy on the final leg of the journey were the Assembly's youngest delegate, Hlengiwe Buthelezi (Durban), delegate of TOGS South Africa, and Zeljko Blace (Zagreb), delegate of qSport Croatia.
Honorary Life Member Gene Dermody, an active volunteer and participant in every Gay Games, read the following statement on behalf of the FGG:
The Dr. Tom Waddell Trophy represents the history and legacy of Dr. Tom Waddell, of the Games he founded, and the nearly thirty-year movement they have launched and nourished.
It is symbolic, a vessel for our spirit, our inspiration, and all of the tears of joy shed by the thousands of participants whose lives have been touched by the power of Gay Games.
We entrust our hosts in Cologne with this Trophy, as we have entrusted them with the legacy of the Games founded by Tom Waddell, confident that they will return this symbol in a few short months, and, more important, return the faith we have shown in them by sharing the flame of the Gay Games with thousands of men and women from around the world.
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