More than 100 Irish athletes took part in the Gay Games in Cologne, joined by their partners and supporters. With 3,000 participants, host nation Germany comprised the biggest team, followed by 2,200 athletes from the US. The biggest sport represented this year in Cologne was soccer, with around 1,000 participants in men’s and women’s teams.Events kicked off last Saturday with a huge opening ceremony at the RheinEnergie Stadium in Cologne. Trailing national and rainbow flags behind them, beaming athletes streamed into the stadium to enthusiastic applause: the Irish strutted out proudly alongside British colleagues bearing pink Union Jacks.
Managing Team Ireland was Frank Kelly, who two years ago set up Out in Ireland as an umbrella organization bringing together gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people with an interest in sport. Outinireland.net allows people to connect with others in the LGBT community who share their interests. The group already has networks for tennis, badminton, rowing and squash and is growing all the time. He hopes the Gay Games will increase the visibility of gay athletes.
“When people think about the gay community, a lot of it revolves around the gay scene and Gay Pride,” says Kelly. “The Gay Games gives people a chance to do the sport they enjoy without having to look around them.”
Waterford swimmer Nick Flanagan matched his five-medal record from the last Gay Games in Copenhagen. Badminton player Joe Ruddy is going for gold in doubles with his match partner Shaun Doyle early this morning after losing in the singles quarterfinals. Ruddy praises the Gay Games for encouraging a “personal best” philosophy that allows all age groups and skill levels to compete with each other.
“A lot of people are playing at a social level who wouldn’t normally play in competition. But at the top level in all disciplines there are serious sports people who would be at home in any regular competition,” says Ruddy (48), who works at Martyn Evans Sports in Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Tennis Club.
“At the top level it’s hard-fought and people want to win. But in general the atmosphere is less contentious, more friendly and there is a strong element of fair play and sportsmanship.”
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