Live From Cologne: Smooth as fine German engineering

Live from Cologne report from Kevin Boyer, Chicago.

Gay Games registration is running very, very smoothly. There are plenty of volunteers and today, at least, the lines were very short or nonexistent. It took me just 1 minute to get my pre-printed credential on the lower level, and that was my stopping to thank the volunteers for their hard work.. Even later when there were more people, it was one volunteer or more to every participant (see pic). Good job, guys.

Upstairs at the Koelnmesse building (where registration is taking place), all of the sports coordinators are giving out schedules, maps and generally helping people orient themselves. Up there I ran into Hlengiwe Buthelezi, a runner from South Africa who has helped represent LGBT athletes from that country to the Federation of Gay Games. She was up there with a couple of friends (see pic). Later downstairs the Chosen Few lesbian soccer team from South Africa came into the registration area singing as they often do to cheers from the many volunteers.

Photos by Kevin Boyer