Conny Kempe Schaelicke: Tom Waddell Award finalist

The Federation of Gay Game's highest honour will be presented during Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany during the opening ceremonies.

The Federation of Gay Games today announced the list of finalists for the 2010 Tom Waddell Award. The Award, which will be presented during Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, symbolised by the Dr. Tom Waddell Trophy, recognises one man and one woman who have made outstanding contributions to the Gay Games and worldwide LGBT sport and culture. The trophy, a gift of Vancouver's lesbian, gay, bi and transsexual community on the occasion of Gay Games III in 1990, is presented every four years at each Gay Games in honour of their founder, Dr. Tom Waddell. (More about the award HERE).

Conny Kempe-Schaelicke of Berlin, Germany has been nominated for her work in creating and developing LGBT sports organizations. Her work began in Berlin, where she co-founded Seitenwechsel, Berlin's first athletic club for women/lesbians offering a wide range of sports and including outreach to girls. She was at the heart of the group organizing Berlin's first participation at the Gay Games for the "Celebration 90" Gay Games in Vancouver. Out of this grew Team Berlin, a cooperative helping to organize groups for the Gay Games, Outgames, and EuroGames. Her work spread to the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation, where she served as the first female co-president. Her direct collaboration with the FGG was marked by the hosting of the FGG Annual Meeting in Berlin in 1999.