FAQ / There is nothing special about sport for gays and lesbians, so why single them out with a Gay Games?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

There is nothing special about sport for gays and lesbians, so why single them out with a Gay Games?

What is most special about LGBT sport is that it offers a safe and welcoming environment for homosexuals to practice their sport. In any case, in every case we practice sports not just to compete, but to share an experience with a community.

In certain sports, there are events that, due largely to homophobia and prejudice about gender roles, are not found outside the LGBT sport. For example, men’s synchronized swimming has still to be accepted in many countries and at the international level. Same-sex pairs in bodybuilding, dance sport, and figure skating are found only at LGBT sports events.