"The Road to Cologne": Richard Sypniewski

Here's an extract of a profile of a Gay Games VIII athlete. Read the full profile in Living in the Queer Times HERE:

The opening ceremony [of Gay Games VII] gave me an incredible feeling running out on the field with my teammates to a stadium of tens of thousands with people from all over the world. I remember lining up before the ceremony outside the stadium there was a group of religious protesters holding signs stating, “Homosexuality is a sin”. My friend and I have a picture of us kissing underneath this sign holding the American flag. I still have that photo on my wall today. Running into the stadium gives a person such a rush. By no means would I be considered a true Olympic athlete but to feel that similar experience is like nothing else in the world. This is why the Gay Games is so important, to demonstrate to the world that the GLBT community is vast and broad and that by coming together in the spirit of competition and inclusion, we are a group of beautiful and special people.