Taking stock: A look back at the Federation of Gay Games... in 2009

Gay Games VIII promotion at Cologne Christopher Street Day

Visit of bowling venue

Following FGG’s visit to the Southern Hemisphere for its 2008 Annual Meeting, 2009 started with stepped-up preparations for Gay Games VIII in Cologne.

Site Inspections: As part of its duties to support and monitor execution of Gay Games planning, several site inspections were held during 2008 and 2009. This included venue visits to sports and culture facilities, and meetings with the local managers for Gay Games VIII events, capped by a general site visit during the week of the 2009 Annual Meeting.

Latest Ambassador Brian Sims

Gay Games Ambassador Programme: The Gay Games Ambassador programme was revitalized thanks to the efforts of Kate Rowe. Contact with Ambassadors was frequent and their support of the Gay Games is very much appreciated. The newly created newsletter, ACTIVATE!, provided regular communication to and from the Ambassadors.

Ambassadors include: John Amaechi, Judith Arndt, Billy Bean, Amanda Bearse, Tom Bianchi, Melissa Etheridge, Michelle Ferris, Rudy Galindo, Bruce Hayes, Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King, David Kopay, Judith Light, Greg Louganis, Chris Morgan, Leigh-Ann Naidoo, Petra Roessner, Brian Sims, Esera Tuaolo, and Ji Wallace.

Our hearfelt thanks to all the FGG Ambassadors!

Gender Equity Policy: Following the Gender Parity workshop held during the 2008 Annual Meeting in Cape Town, FGG approved a Gender Equity Policy and Strategy. Key objectives include:

• Increase participation of women on the board and in members organisation
• Raise awareness of the board and assembly members in understanding the particular challenges faced by women
• Acknowledge diversity of experience around the world
• Create goodwill and encourage continued efforts to improve women’s involvement in the FGG Board, General Assembly and member organizations

EGLSF 20th Anniversary: The FGG Board held its “mid-year” meeting in the Hague in order join the EGLSF in the celebration of its 20th Anniversary. Created as a result of the Gay Games, long-time partner and supporter EGLSF was honored by FGG with a "20 for 20" gift - 20 free Gay Games VIII registrations for use by EGLSF member organizations.

French Ministry of Health and Sport: Following an initial letter to Roselyne Bachelot, Minister of Health and Sport, sent by Marc Naimark to discuss relations with WADA (World Anti-Doping Association), FGG and member organization FSGL worked together to establish joint programmes and exchange information with the Ministry. The culmination this collaboration (so far) resulted in the magnificent support given to over 500 French Gay Games VIII participants by both Madame Bachelot and Madame Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Sport. Thanks to their support, FSGL was able to provide team uniforms for of their members who participated in Gay Games VIII. In addition, Mme Rama Yade hosted a “send off” party a week before GGVIII, and both Mme Bachelot and the Mayor of Paris, Monsieur Bertrand Delanöe, hosted receptions for FSGL medal winners – the first time that FSGL members were received in such a manner. Special thanks to Ronan le Joubioux, Adviser to the Ministry and former Olympic sailer in Barcelona, Atlanta, and Sydney.

The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture: As part of the conference sessions held at the Copenhagen Outgames, FGG organized a workshop on “The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture” where over 30 participants met to discuss the needs and wishes of their organizations regarding future quadrennial events.

Led by Martyn Pickup of Berlin, representatives of GLISA, EGLSF, FGG, Team Berlin, FSGL, and many other organizations agreed to continue the discussions and work together to reach the common goal of one quadrennial event.

The next encounter was held a few months later in Cologne following the FGG Annual Meeting. Again, representatives from around the world attended the session led by moderator Darl Schaaff of Anchorage. As in Copenhagen, the participants agreed to continue discussions and work together to reach the ultimate goal of one quadrennial event.

A final informal session took place in Frankfurt during their annual Christmas Tournament. There was much agreement by all participants in all sessions regarding what a future "one quadrennial event" could look like. Participants in the discussions were urged to work with FGG and GLISA to express their needs and wishes regarding the future of LGBT sport and culture, especially in the context of one quadrennial event.

Tom Waddell Award: The end of 2009 was marked by preparations for the FGG's highest honor, the Tom Waddell Award. Nominations opened, and at the 2009 Annual Meeting, the FGG Assembly designated its members to the selection committee. Also at the Annual Meeting, the official transfer of the Dr. Tom Waddell Trophy from the FGG to our hosts Games Cologne, in anticipation of the presentation of the Trophy at the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games VIII.
 

Legacy Awards: During this Annual Meeting in Cologne, a new set of Legacy Awards was presented:
Outreach and Scholarship Support to Dick Uyvari and Joe La Pat
For their dedication to bringing people from around the world to Chicago through the Gay Games Scholarship Program, which they generously funded and championed.

Media and Journalism to Tracy Baim, publisher and executive editor of the Windy City Times
For many years of positive coverage of LGBT sports and culture, locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. The entire Gay Games movement owes Tracy Baim a great deal of gratitude for her tireless efforts.

Academic Scholarship and Research to Caroline Symons, PhD
For her extensive research on LGBT sport and her inspirational leadership in numerous campaigns against homophobia in sport.

Legacy Award for a Sports Event to Tournoi international de Paris
For six consecutive years of staging a highly popular multi-sport event that consistently empowers thousands of LGBT athletes from Europe and beyond in friendly and spirited competitions held in the City Of Light.

Legacy Award for Youth Outreach and Coaching to Golden Gate Alliance Wrestling
For its bold and groundbreaking efforts to support young athletes, both gay and straight, by providing volunteer coaching and human inspiration to urban high school wrestling programs dealing with severe budget cuts. Their outreach efforts fight homophobia while inspiring young people and adults alike.

Buthelezi and McMahon

Volunteers of the Year: In line with the FGG's commitment to gender equity, it was decided that the award would be presented each year to one male and one female volunteer.

At the Annual Meeting itself, Volunteer of the Year awards, represented by the FGG Cape Town Cup, a trophy created using the pitcher offered as the official gift of the City of Cape Town to to the FGG at the 2008 Annual Meeting, were presented to Ian McMahon and Hlengiwe Buthelezi, both South African delegates.

Among other achievements, Ian organized the previous Annual Meeting in Cape Town, while Hlengiwe is an active volunteer for FGG member TOGS and for a local organization she has created in Durban: KwaZulu Natal LGBT Recreation.

Valarie McCall, Joe Cimperman, Kurt Dahl, Emy Ritt

GGIX 2014 site selection: The high point of the year took place in October, with the selection of the site of Gay Games IX 2014, just before the Annual Meeting in Cologne. With excellent bids from Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C., the FGG General Assembly members had a very difficult choice to make. For the first time, instant runoff voting was used to expedite the voting process.

In the first round of voting, Cleveland was chosen as host city for Gay Games IX 2014, on the basis of its outstanding sports and culture facilities, the opportunity to ensue the visibility and impact of the Gay Games, and the concrete commitment of local authorities to support the event. This included the allocation of USD 700,000 as starter funding approved by the city council (a plaque representing this legislation is seen presented here by councilman Joe Cimperman and Valarie McCall of the Mayor's office).

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