Mexico's Tri Gay soccer team heading to Cologne

From ChannelsTV:

Mexico's "Tri Gay" soccer team are getting ready to compete at the upcoming Gay Games to be held in Cologne from July 31 to August 7, 2010.

Team members - formed largely by homosexual and two transsexual players - and their uniform were presented at a bar in the Zona Rosa area of Mexico City, a neighbourhood which boasts from a large gay community.

"The "Tri Gay" is characterized mainly for being the only team which is also a civil organisation which fights against discrimination, homophobia, HIV as well as a sporting team. It is characterized by its total diversity. We have intersexual and homosexual players, we have two transsexual players - me as a trans girl and a boy - we also have lesbian girls. The whole diversity is represented by the "Tri Gay," said Mexico "Tri Gay" Coach, Miranda Salman.

The team received little support from sponsors but they managed to purchase seven plane tickets to Dusseldorf with 130,000 pesos (approx. $10,262 dollars) thanks to a donation made by Mexico City's Sporting Institute.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation also donated another ticket for one of the goalkeepers in the team.


Rinart, a Mexican sporting brand also donated the jerseys and shorts the team will wear. Other donations came from a local nightclub and clothes store.

The "Tri Gay' soccer team is now completing enrollment payments for the team at the tournament which will have two divisions, with teams competing mainly from Europe, the United States, an Asian team (Japan) and two Latin American teams, including the one from Mexico.

"What we expect from the team is to be champions. Obviously like all teams we go out to win the championship. We know it's going to be difficult but we hope to play well in Germany," said the president and captain of Mexico "Tri Gay," Andoni Bello Lanestosa.

Some 10,000 people from more than 70 countries will take part in the 8th edition of the Gay Games in Cologne this year. There will be a total of 35 athletic disciplines such as soccer, volleyball, figure skating and even golf and chess. Cultural events are also expected to draw some 2,000 people including singers, musicians, visual artists, dancers and cheerleaders.