Equipe France hosted by French Ministry of Sports

As stated by Rama Yade, junior minister for sports and patron of the French delegation to Gay Games VIII, it is not the custom for French teams to be welcomed to the Ministry before participating in an international competition. The honor given to FGG member organization Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne is all the more notable, as was the presence of the minister at the uniform distribution ceremony last night.

The uniforms, including a track suit that will be used for many events to come, were purchased with the help of a 15,000-euro grant from the discretionary funds of the ministry, and highlight the FSGL's motto of sport in the service of the fight against all forms of discrimination. The logo of each FSGL member club appears on both the track suit and the special Gay Games VIII tshirt.

Some 175 of the 500 French athletes participating in the Gay Games attended the event, held at the penthouse reception room of the ministry, where Mme Yade spoke of her personal commitment to the fight against homophobia, whether in her previous position as junior minister for human rights, or in her current position as junior minister for sports.

Also speaking were Bruno Aussenac, president of the FSGL, who took note of the extraordinary support of the Ministry of Health and Sport for the fight against homophobia in sport, and the role of sport in the fight against homophobia in society, and Christelle Foucault, vice president of the FSGL and its delegate to the FGG. Christelle, who leads the Equipe France 2010 task force, spoke of the long history of the Gay Games, of the amazing growth of the event and the movement, of the French bid to host the 2010 Gay Games,  and her hopes that Paris will soon be able to welcome the athletes of the world to this largest sporting event in the world open to all.

Among those attending were advisors to Mme Yade, including Bertrand Pirel (professional sports) and Pierre Messerlin (sport for all), and Ronan Le Joubioux, advisor (health and society) to Mme Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, senior minister for health and sport.

Thanks to all the volunteers of the FSGL, and in particular to Jean Pierre Grasland, who took on the daunting task of organizing the uniform choice, ordering, and distribution.