Suggestions for 2010 Legacy Awards welcomed

The Federation of Gay Games will be presenting Legacy Awards in a variety of categories during a ceremony to take place at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany. The FGG Awards Committee is welcoming suggestions for nominees for the following awards:

• Outstanding Athlete: for athletic performance, sportsmanship, involvement, and enthusiasm as a participant in one or more Gay Games (male and female)
• Outstanding Artist: for artistic ability and expression, involvement, and enthusiasm as a participant in one or more Gay Games (male and female)
• Excellence in Fundraising: for outstanding contributions, direct or indirect, toward fundraising for the Federation of Gay Games scholarship program
• Outstanding City Team: for mobilizing participation in Gay Games VIII via organizational outreach and fundraising efforts

If you would like to propose an individual or organization for one of these awards, simply send an email to awards@gaygames.org by February 28, 2010.

(Pictured, Dick Uyvari, winner of the 2009 Legacy Award for Fundraising and Scholarship Support, with FGG co-presidents Emy Ritt and Kurt Dahl, at the 2009 FGG Annual Meeting gala dinner in Cologne, Germany.)

Tom Waddell Award: deadline extension

In response to requests from persons preparing nominations for the Tom Waddell Award, the deadline for submissions has been extended to February 14. To ensure equity, we are making this extension public and allowing any interested party to take advantage of it.

How often and to whom is the Tom Waddell Award given?
The Tom Waddell Award is given to one man and one woman, every four years, during the Gay Games opening or closing ceremony.

What is the purpose of the Tom Waddell Award?
The Tom Waddell Award was established in 1990 to recognize men and women with a history of service to the Gay Games and/or the worldwide LGBT community in the arts, athletics, and/or volunteerism.


How often and to whom is the Tom Waddell Award given?
The Tom Waddell Award is given to one man and one woman, every four years, during the Gay Games opening or closing ceremony.

What are the nomination qualifications?
A nominee should:
- Inspire pride through leadership and excellence in sports, culture, or volunteerism
- Provide inspiration and participate at his or her personal best
- Devote energies to the success of the Gay Games and/or related activities without regard for personal gain
- Personify commitment, selflessness, and love of humanity

For more information and to submit a nomination
Click HERE for nomination form. When complete, submit to: awards@gaygames.org. Deadline extended to 14 February 2010.

Council of Europe conference: "Fight Against Racism and Violence through Diversity in Sport”"

Last October the Council of Europe organized an international conference devoted to the fight against racism and violence through diversity in sport" in Belgrade, Serbia.

“Tolerance, mutual respect and fair play are at the heart of every sport and must be promoted by all” announced Mrs Snezana Samardzic, Minister of Youth and Sport, Republic of Serbia.

Four ministers and representatives from 24 European countries met together at this conference in search of solutions and remedies to combat this threat.

Organised by the Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), in co-operation with the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sport and the European Convention on Spectator Violence, this pan-European conference aims to promote existing Council of Europe standards and develop new strategies and measures to prevent violence and racism in sport, but also to strengthen education policies and foster co-operation between all authorities concerned.

LEXIT becomes KZN LGBT Recreation

Hlengiwe Buthelezi, Federation of Gay Games delegate from member TOGS, 2009 FGG Volunteer of the Year, writes about a recent event in the Durban area.

We presented an aerobics marathon at the Virgin Active gym. Weather conditions changed our initial plans: we had originally planned to offer an aerobics marathon, a fashion show, music and Pansula dance, and a soccer fun match. But due to heavy rain, Petros Duma, chair of the event, negotiated with Virgin Active, where he works as an aerobics instructor, so that our event could proceed despite the rainfall.

The event went perfectly well, although cutting back on the programme decreased the number of participants. Those who came were all very excited. I was even more excited about the reception of Gay Games news from those attending, as I had absolutely no negative response from the straight people present. Instead, they all had very relevant questions for me. I have always had the impression that the general public in South Africa was rather homophobic, so this was a most pleasant surprise.

Everyone, including straight people, was interested to learn more about the Gay Games and they all took pamphlets to utilize the information. Even long after the event I still get enquiries from people who did not even attend the event.

Flashback to Gay Games VII

From Windy City Times :

Ald. Tom Tunney ( 44th ) , Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, and other community and business leaders celebrated the ending of the three-year renovation of the Belmont El station Jan. 28 with a ceremony featuring artist David Csicsko, whose designs brighten up the facility inside and out. The station is in the city's heavily LGBT Lakeview neighborhood, just down the street from Tunney's Ann Sather restaurant.

Tunney, who was fresh from the previous night's State of the Union in Washington, said the station "represents a gleaming gateway to our beautiful neighborhood." The facility also has room for commercial tenants.

The mosaic faces of Lakeview artist Csicsko, whose designs were also the "face" of Gay Games VII in 2006 in Chicago, were hand-cut and made at Erin Adams Design in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Adams joined Csicsko at the dedication. The designs depict various types of train riders with colorful faces.

"I wanted to capture the spirit of Lakeview," Csicsko said in a press release. "There's so much diversity and vitality here, it just seemed that the train image was a great way to represent that. The design is all about making visitors enjoy using the station."

The mosaics even have a Facebook group, "Rub the Eye for Luck," which asks riders to rub an "eye" on one of the mosaic faces for good luck.

"What the IOC can learn from queers"

As we approach the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, an interesting perspective from our Canadian friends at XTRA! West:

Three weeks before the first Gay Olympics in 1982, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) sued the organizers over the word “Olympic.”

The event was the brainchild of San Francisco-based Dr Tom Waddell, a decathlon competitor in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He felt that a gay Olympics would provide an opportunity for gay people to demonstrate to the world that their skills and competitive spirit in sports parallel those of the rest of humanity.

Waddell also wanted to replace the obsession to win at all costs with the positive joys of simple participation. These games would require no minimum ability. Winning would be defined as achieving one’s personal best.

Gays and Grapes

Gays and Grapes
a wine tasting for Seattle Stonewall FC, World OutGames Champions
When: Saturday, February 20th 2010, 4-7pm
Where: Poco Wine Room
Cost: $25 per person

Please join Poco Wine Room and Seattle Stonewall as we celebrate the end of a decade, new beginnings, world peace... who are we kidding we want wine! Your favorite soccer team has teamed up with the fabulous Poco Wine Room again to bring you a fabulous afternoon of delicious appetizers, tantalizing wines and sexy company to support Seattle Stonewall.

Seattle Stonewall continues their bid for another medal at the Gay Games 2010 in Cologne, Germany. Funds raised at Gays and Grapes will help bring us closer to our "goal" of sending your favorite players to represent Seattle in the largest GLBT sporting event in the world.

"Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age".

Visit their website or their page on Facebook.

This event follows a very successful winetasting fundraiser held by Seattle women's team, Rain City Surge, on January 23, which will be followed by others very soon.

Opps for Ozzies!

From Gay Games VIII media partner the Sydney Star Observer:

The days are ticking by, and there are now fewer than 200 sleeps until the German city of Cologne welcomes gay and lesbian athletes and supporters from around the world for Gay Games Cologne 2010.

As the event draws closer, there’s still time for undecided sports clubs and teams to commit to competing. Those attending either New Mardi Gras Fair Day (on Sunday February 21 at Victoria Park in Sydney) or ChillOut Carnival Day (on Sunday March 7 at Daylesford’s Victoria Park) will have a chance to discuss the Cologne Gay Games with Games organisers — and Cologne locals — themselves.

At both the New Mardi Gras and ChillOut stalls, those interested in making the trip to Cologne in July can receive information about discounted airfares from Australia, accommodation tips and a wealth of information about the sport and cultural program of Gay Games Cologne 2010. The Cologne residents manning the stalls will also be able to provide local insights about the ins and outs of their city, regarded as one of the secret hotspots of gay and lesbian life and culture in Europe.

Gay Games organisers expect more than 12,000 participants from all over the world to attend this year’s Games, and are already close to their goal of having the biggest Australian participation rate yet for an international Gay Games held outside of Australia.

With a few more registrations, they’ll hit the record — so now’s the perfect time to start planning a July jaunt to Cologne to experience the European summer and the undeniable buzz of a cosmopolitan city overrun with queer athletes from across the world.

FGG in South America

Adelina Santiago (IAGLMA), Fernando Carvajal (Movdeinchile), and Derek Liecty (Honorary Life Member), presenting plans for South American outreach at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the FGG

Although plans for 2011 are not as firmly set as this article may indicate, it is true that the FGG wishes to come very soon to South America. We thank Derek for his scouting work, and Fernando Carvajal for his tireless efforts in promoting sport for all in Chile and beyond!

27 de enero, 2010 (OpusGay.cl).- El equipo directivo de la "Federation of Gay Games" tendrá su primera reunión de trabajo en Santiago de Chile en el 2011, informó el miembro honorario de la institución, Derek Liecty.

En el marco de una visita efectuada a la sede del Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh), Liecty precisó que para el 2011 se espera al arribo a Chile de representantes de Alemania, Australia, Bélgica, Canadá, Estados Unidos, Francia, Italia y Sudáfrica, entre otros países.

Los objetivos de la cita, la primera efectuada por Gay Games en Chile, serán analizarán los resultados de la X Versión Internacional de estos juegos, que tendrán lugar desde julio próximo en Alemania, y avanzar en la preparación del XI encuentro, previsto para el 2014 en Cleveland, Ohio, Estados Unidos.

"Queremos acercar los deportes competitivos a Latinoamérica y por eso hemos pensado en Chile. Así aportamos a superar la discriminación que afecta a lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transexuales", sostuvo Liecty.

La reunión deportiva en Santiago será coordinada por Mov de in Chile y Aprofa, con el apoyo difusor del Movilh.

El presidente de Mov de in Chile, Fernando Carvajal, precisó que con motivo de la visita del cuerpo directivo de la Federación Internacional de Gay Games, su colectivo organizará en Santiago la Cuarta Versión Latinoamericana de Vóleiboil, donde competirán equipos de diversos países de la región compuestos por lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transexuales y heterosexuales.

Jeff Sheng's latest photobook published

Friend of the Gay Games Jeff Sheng, following up on his Fearless Campus Tour devoted to out high school and college athletes, has just published the first volume of photobooks in his new series, Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Here is more info on the project from his website, where you can order the book:

What is the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” photo project and book series?

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Volume 1,” by artist Jeff Sheng, is the first ever published photo book that features the portraits and stories of closeted men and women still serving in the U.S. military affected by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy banning gays and lesbians from openly serving in our military. “Volume 1,” published in January 2010, is the first book of a planned multi-volume series of the project by Jeff Sheng, and features 20 different photo shoots in full color from 17 different service members from across the United States, printed along with selected anonymous e-mails from some of these soldiers detailing their experiences.

Who is Jeff Sheng?

Jeff Sheng is a 29-year old American artist based in Los Angeles. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in photography and filmmaking (BA, Visual and Environmental Studies, 2002) and holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA, Studio Art, 2007) from the University of California, Irvine. His other art project “Fearless,” a powerful photography series that Jeff began in 2003, now features the portraits over 100 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-identified athletes on high school and college sports teams. "Fearless," has achieved international recognition and acclaim, having been exhibited at over 40 venues between 2006-2009, and will be shown at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in Canada. Jeff also currently teaches at the University of California, Santa Barbara. You can see more of his artwork at www.jeffsheng.com

A message from Lydia La Rivière-Zijdel

Lydia La Rivière-Zijdel is the most recent winner of the Tom Waddell Award, presented at the opening ceremony of Gay Games VII in Chicago.

We're pleased to share her New Year's greetings to her friends in the Gay Games movement:

I am looking forward to this year wherein another (and for me 5th) Gay and Lesbian Games will take place.

I truly look forward seeing you all in Cologne and working with you towards new candidates for the Tom Waddell Award.

Let the Games begin.

Greetings,

Lydia

How to win at the Gay Games

Charlotte, who blogs at Countdown to Cologne (follow her posts on our blogroll), reminds us of (her) rules to win at the Gay Games...

How to Win at the Gay Games
1. She who looks most fabulous wins.
2. The score is only semi-relevant.
3. Colour coordination between doubles partners is a good idea.
4. Never forget to accessorise.
5. Remember - it's the Gay Games - not Wimbeldon and the motto is Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best!

FGG at the "Agora du Sport"

The Federation of Gay Games, represented by co-president Emy Ritt and Sports Committee co-chair Marc Naimark, was invited to take part in a round table held on 22 January on the theme of "Racism and discrimination in sport" as part of the third annual Agora du Sport.

The session, held at the University of Paris X Nanterre campus, was chaired by football champion Lilian Thuram. Thuram, who holds the record for selections to the French national team, including the team that won the 1998 World Cup, is a member of the national council for integration, and has founded the Lilian Thuram Foundation for Education against Racism.

The FGG wishes Matthew Mitcham the best at the Australian national diving championships

2010 Australian Diving Championships

Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

Friday 22 January 2010 to Sunday 24 January 2010

The Championships will feature Australia's top male and female divers including Beijing Gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, Silver medallists Melissa Wu and Briony Cole, and Olympians Sharleen Stratton and Alexandra Croak along with a group of younger divers seeking selection with 2010 Shadow Squad for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The FGG is proud to count Matthew Mitcham as a friend, and we wish him the best of luck this week.

From Matt's Facebook page:

Friday: won the 1m event :) got 3m synchro and 10m synchro with this morning's silver medallist, Ethan Warren *cheers*

Friday: had a successful first day of competition: 10 hours, 2 gold, 1 silver. One tired boy!! Only two days to go.

Saturday: had another successful day in the office. I achieved my Olympic Final score in the preliminary and semi-final, and won the 10m event. And there is some fantastic new talent coming through! Just one day to go woop woop!

EU sports policy to focus on societal issues

From Euractiv:

The first commissioner to shape the EU's new competence on sport policy said that she will, if confirmed, emphasise the societal role of sport and aim to use it as a vehicle to achieve positive change in other sectors, such as health, gender equality and education.

"The societal role of sport is a very important aspect of sport policy and I really intend to work on that," said Cypriot Commissioner-designate for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou during a three-hour hearing on Thursday (14 January).

"We really have to use sport for the sake of sport itself but also as a tool for other policies," she continued, referring to her experience as EU health commissioner and knowledge of studies revealing links between a lack of physical activity and obesity, for example.

In addition to promoting health-enhancing physical activity, the commissioner-designate listed promotion of grassroots sport, addressing violence and racism in sport and promoting its social and educational functions among her future priorities.

QUAC readies for Gay Games VIII

Queer Utah Aquatics Club is getting ready for Cologne.

As you might know– Gay Games is happening this year in Cologne, Germany at the end of summer (31 July – 7 August). If you have never experienced Gay Games– it is a wonderful week of athletic competition, exciting events, and great friendship. Teams and individuals from all walks of life and all sexual orientations come to support the values of inclusion, understanding, and excellence.

Don’t think you need to be on the level of Michael Phelps to go either! No matter your athletic ability, you can go and compete. So even if you’ve never swam in competition before or your trophy shelf is about to break, there’s sure to be a place for you at Gay Games.

Read more HERE.

Windy City profile: Stephen Hewitt

When he was 9, Stephen Hewitt tried out for the Sports Performance Volleyball Club (SPVC) and became the youngest and first boy inducted into a primarily all-girls 12-under program.

He ultimately played at SPVC for nine years, qualifying for the National Tournament when he was 14, 16, and 18.

"I was constantly plagued with injuries and illness in my later years," said Hewitt, now 19 and a Chicago resident in the South Loop. "When I was 16, I severely injured a muscle in my lower back that took me out for weeks and also developed a tendency to pass out from dehydration. When I was 17, my knee began giving out and, [ when ] 18, I injured my hand right before a big tournament in California. In order to keep playing I covered it up and never let it heal properly. I also punctured a hole the size of a quarter in my foot at National's, and [ this fall ] I may have popped a vein or two in my right hand."

Despite the injuries, Hewitt is still driven, motivated to excel. He's weight-training to get back in top shape and focused on the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, where he will compete in beach volleyball and/or indoor volleyball.

"My [ Gay Games ] goals are to represent myself as a strong competitor/teammate who will help lead my team to [ victory ] ," he said. "I also would like to represent young gay men in sportsmanship, teamwork, drive, and communicability.

"For me, the Gay Games mean an official return to the sport that I built my life around."

Hewitt is now the men's and women's club volleyball coach at Illinois Performance Volleyball, and also a sales associate at Aeropostale. He is single, a 2008 graduate of St. Francis Catholic College Preparatory in Wheaton and now a sophomore at Columbia College in Chicago.

Read more HERE.

More media spreading the news on need for Gay Games Scholarship donations

Thanks to these people for spreading the word!
-----

The Gay Games Scholarship Program is already sending 34 gay and lesbian athletes to this year’s games, but is still in need of funds to send a further 10 underprivileged participants to the event.

The Federation of Gay Games has a shortfall of £13,500 to support 10 athletes from Mexico, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines. This shortfall has lead to a heartfelt plea to the LGBT community at large to dig deep and contribute to this worthwhile cause.

Paul Oostenbrug, the co chair of the scholarship program said “Many of these athletes face challenges that most of us will never experience. “Where being openly gay or lesbian can risk life or limb, participating in the Gay Games may seem like a luxury. But the experience is extremely moving for them, and offers our scholarship athletes a chance to learn how the LGBT sports movement can be a vehicle for change in their own community. Without a full scholarship, participation would be impossible.

“We ask that everyone with the ability to donate make a contribution this holiday season,” said Oostenbrug. “$30 pays for one night’s housing. $250 covers one person’s participation fees, and $1,600 will fully sponsor one athlete.”


The money donated will go toward the financial support for the travel, housing, registration fees and a daily allowance for the week at the Games. For more information please visit http://www.gaygames.com/en/donate/.

Follow Kaia Wilson on the road to Cologne

More HERE.

"Journey to the Gay Games 2010" part one from Kristina Davies on Vimeo.

"Journey to the Gay Games 2010" part two from Kristina Davies on Vimeo.

San Francisco Chronicle profiles dancers heading to Cologne

Same-sex dance instructors and champions
Edward Guthmann, Special to The Chronicle

Monday, January 18, 2010
(01-18) 17:33 PST OAKLAND -- When they dance together, Zoe Balfour wears the gowns and feathers, while Citabria Phillips dons the tails and takes the lead. World champions in the growing field of same-sex ballroom dancing, they compete in the international standard ballroom repertoire: waltz, foxtrot, tango, quickstep and Viennese waltz.

Dance partners for the past eight years, they won a gold medal at the Out Games in Copenhagen last summer, and will compete at the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, in July. They team-teach same-sex dance classes through Dancing with the Queers, and both teach privately as well - Balfour through her business, Trip the Light Fantastic, and Phillips through hers, Light on Your Feet.

Balfour, 52, grew up in Wales and lives in Oakland with her life partner, Roke Noir. Phillips, 38 and single, was reared in Austin, Texas, and also lives in Oakland.

Gay Games VIII registrations hit 5000

Gay Games VIII Cologne Reports 5,000 Registrations

“With approximately 5,000 registered participants, we are far ahead of our forecast of 2,500 for New Years Eve. Taking the credit crunch into consideration, this is a fantastic result, said Annette Wachter, Co President of the Games in Cologne. She is positively looking ahead to 2010, the Gay Games year!

Registrations come from all over the world, from as far away as Japan, Afghanistan, and Madagascar. 200 days before the opening [ceremony] at RheinEnergieStadion we are counting 49 registered nationalities. The biggest groups of participants however come from the US and the host country Germany. Out of all 35 sports and 5 cultural events, swimming, soccer, and volleyball are the favourites.

Sports Coordinator Dagmar Ziege is in particular happy about the huge demand of people in playing soccer. Whilst she is playing herself, she is additionally taking care of the organisation of the competitions. She said “The feasability of such an event needs strong partners. I want to express my appreciation towards the City Council of Cologne, especially the sports department, the Cologne Natatorium ltd. and the German Sport University. I want to thank all of them for the amazing team work. The competitions are mainly taking place in their facilities. The cooperation amongst the different departments will prove the image of Cologne as the place to be for any kind of sport for more than 10,000 active sportsmen and women.

The VIII Gay Games Cologne 2010 is taking place from July 31st to August 7th. Some 35 sports competitions and 5 cultural events and an expected 12,000 participants, make it similar in size to the Olympic Games. 34,000 visitors will join in celebrating the opening ceremony on July 31st 2010.

The VIII Gay Games Cologne is a quadrennial sports and cultural event which is based on "participation, inclusion, and personal best" . At the same time it is supposed to fight against discrimination of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people.

Prince of the Pool

Some news from Friend of the Gay Games, Olympic diving medalist Matthew Mitcham:


Prince William in Australia for unofficial tour

Prince William has arrived in Australia for an unofficial tour taking in areas hit by devastating bushfires in 2009.

The prince, who personally requested the trip, arrived from New Zealand where he had been on his first official visit representing the Queen.

He was greeted with a traditional smoking ceremony in the predominantly Aboriginal Sydney suburb of Redfern.

He will also meet Australian soldiers in Sydney before visiting the fire-ravaged communities outside Melbourne.

The 27-year-old last visited Australia as a nine-month-old baby, in 1983.

On arrival on Tuesday, the prince was first taken to meet the Queen's representative in Australia, Governor General Quentin Bryce.

They were joined for lunch by Australian singer Delta Goodrem, cricketer Michael Clarke and Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham.

[On Matthew's Facebook page, he says that he will be unable to attend the barbecue held in honor of Prince William, due to his training session. Priorities!]

Gay Games VIII promo party in Madrid, 27 February

Brian Sims article nominated for GLAAD awards

The Federation of Gay Games is delighted that our friends at Outsports.com have been nominated for an award for Digital Media Journalism by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a leading gay rights organization in the United States.

We are all the more pleased because the article in question concerned a friend of the Gay Games Brian Sims, and his experience as an out athlete during his time as captain of his university football team.

For more on this story, see Outsports HERE.
For all nominees, see the GLAAD website HERE.

Aussie boys (and girls) in Cologne

Gay Games VIII media partner the Sydney Star Observer reports on new support for Sydneysiders coming to Cologne:

The Sydney Stingers water polo club have announced that Aussie Boys will help sponsor their trip to the Gay Games in Cologne this August. Owner of the iconic Oxford St store, Ken Holmes signed a 12-month sponsorship agreement with options to extend. “We wanted to see if the community would support the team and knowing what a major event the Gay Games has become, we thought this could be an ideal opportunity to partner with Aussie Boys,” Sydney Stingers spokesman Stuart Bruce said.

Read more HERE.

Philippe Liotard in Canal Plus documentary

Sociologist Philippe Liotard is featured in this clip from the documentary Sport et homosexualités: où est le problème?. For the full clip and a story (in French) about the documentary, click HERE.

Philippe Liotard is a sociologist at the University of Lyon, which co-hosted the 2006 Federation of Gay Games Annual Meeting. He was the organizer of the scientific conference which followed the meeting, the acts of which have been published under the title Sport et homosexualités, which can be ordered HERE.

FGG Amassador John Amaechi named one of the 20 most powerful gay men in the world

Winq magazine named FGG Ambassador John Amaechi as one of the 20 most powerful gay men in the world, alongside men such as Tom Ford, Stephen Fry, and Andrew Sullivan.

About John, they said:

John Amaechi, former NBA player. "As a motivational speaker and ardent supporter of equality, people take notice of this well-spoken and physically imposing man."

See the full list presented HERE.

Call for scholarship donations

Press outlets from around the world are taking up the call for scholarship donations to all all qualified applicants to come to Cologne for Gay Games VIII from 31 July to 7 August! You can contribute HERE.

Read the coverage at:

Boston Flag Football Video

Boston Flag Football is a group of guys from the "FLAG" flag football league in Boston. They are on a huge mission!

One of their members, Christopher Swank, creates a great movie for their end of year award banquet every year. It has footage of them playing flag football all season and begins with really funny skits with league members in them. This years skit theme is music videos and they have the idea to do another video and post it on Youtube targeting Ellen Degeneres to get on her TV show. They have almost 50K hits so far and want to keep the momentum going.

Check out those videos!

Here's the video links:


and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYshseoaRUg


Also here's the films from our past seasons that Chris puts together.
Check them out, they're pretty funny!!

http://www.swankfilms.net/SWANKFILMS/FLAG_FLAG.html


Here's our league site too:
http://www.flagflagfootball.com/

Thanks so much!

Boston Flag Football

Gay Prime tonight on French network Canal Plus

The Gay Prime night on Canal Plus has received a fair amount of press attention. For more info, see our post HERE.

From "Sport et homosexualités: où est le problème?".

From "Ramène tes fesses à Copenhague".

Pink Paper on Gay Games scholarships

Organisers of the 2010 Gay Games are appealing for donations in order to fund 10 places for underprivileged gay and lesbian athletes to take part in the event this summer.

The Federation of Gay Games have already awarded scholarships to 34 participants but lack $20,000 (£13,500) in funds to support an additional 10 approved applicants from Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.

Paul Oostenbrug, co-chair of the FGG Scholarship Committee, commented: “Many of these athletes face challenges that most of us will never experience.

“Where being openly gay or lesbian can risk life or limb, participating in the Gay Games may seem like a luxury. But the experience is extremely moving for them, and offers our scholarship athletes a chance to learn how the LGBT sports movement can be a vehicle for change in their own community. Without a full scholarship, participation would be impossible.

“We ask that everyone with the ability to donate make a contribution this holiday season,” said Oostenbrug. “$30 pays for one night’s housing. $250 covers one person’s participation fees, and $1,600 will fully sponsor one athlete.”

Continue reading HERE.