Featured events
| 7-9 September 2012 Brussels Games Brussels  Learn more HERE. | 26-28 October 2012 QueergamesBern Bern, Switzerland  The success of the first edition of the QueergamesBern proved the need for an LGBT multisport event in Switzerland. This year will be even bigger, with badminton, bowling, running, walking, floorball. Learn more HERE. | 17-20 January 2013 Sin City Shootout Las Vegas  Learn more HERE. | 13-16 June 2013 IGLFA Euro Cup Dublin  Learn more HERE. |
Showing posts with label sin city shootout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin city shootout. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
17 January 2013 / Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Roger Brigham on the Sin City Shootout
Las Vegas is the most improbable of cities. Plopped down in the midst of a vast desert plain with horizons rimmed by forbidding mountains, it emerges into view on our descent as a Dali-esque fantasy – a kind of Pee-wee Herman's Big Acid Adventure meets Disneyland on Steroids.
I had the chance to fly to Vegas last weekend for the fifth annual Sin City Shootout, which in half a decade has expanded from a modest softball tournament to a thriving multi-sport sports festival. This year's edition, which drew almost 4,000 athletes, included softball, basketball, wrestling, and bodybuilding.
"Tennis had to back out at the last minute but is going to promote early for 2013," said Eric Ryan, Sin City tournament director. "All of the sports said with a full year to now promote for 2013 and build the hype with this year's athletes they expect a larger athlete pool next year. Softball had 163 teams, which is a record for any LGBT softball event in the world."
The real star throughout the weekend was Vegas itself. There are no opening and closing ceremonies at the Sin City Shootout: just lots of playing on and off the field.
"My favorite highlight was at the Sunday closing party at RPM at Tropicana," Ryan said. "I got there two hours early to make sure everything was in place, ready to go. An hour before the doors opened, people were lining up. Once the doors actually opened a little after 9 p.m., the line was halfway through the hotel casino for an hour straight."
Monday, January 9, 2012
14 January 2012 / Wrestlers Without Borders heading to Vegas for Sin City Shootout
The wrestling weekend is being coordinated by Southern California Wrestling Club's Chris Lorefice, a WWB delegate to the Federation of Gay Games. WWB and SCWC are partnering to run the wrestling events. "We expect about 20-25 wrestlers, and so far the organization from the Sin City group has been great," Lorefice said. "We are expecting a great event in Vegas."
The new tournament is named the Runyon Wrestling Classic, in honor of the late Pete Runyon, founder of SCWC. It is expected to draw around two dozen athletes, on par with the debut for most club tournaments.
Former SCWC coach Mike Rio, a gold medalist in Gay Games II, will be inducted into WWB's Hall of Merit posthumously. Joining him in being honored will be: Rochelle Robinson, San Francisco, 1998 Gay Games and U.S. Nationals champion; Michael Ognibene, New York City, three-time Gay Games gold medalist; and Albert "Ace" Rocek, San Francisco, three-time Gay Games gold medalist.
In addition to the Saturday freestyle tournament and awards ceremonies, the weekend will feature a grappling clinic on Sunday. Grappling, along with beach wrestling and Greco-Romans, are forms of wrestling which future Gay Games hosts have the option of adding to their freestyle tournaments.
"Grappling is swiftly growing in popularity with younger wrestlers because of the growth of mixed martial arts," said WWB Chairman Roger Brigham. "We felt the Gay Games program would be more appealing for some wrestlers if they had the option of competing in other forms that are more popular in some areas or are showing strong growth."
Wrestling was approached in 2010 to become part of the Sin City Shootout. After SWCW and WWB explored member interest and organizational options, the decision was made to join in the fun. WWB member Metro Wrestling Club, which normally holds its annual tournament on that weekend, moved its tournament date so wrestlers could have the option of competing in both events.
"We were delighted to have the opportunity to be in the shootout because of the ability to offer a very, very low cost tournament and to be able to control our expenses and tournament management," Brigham said. "This grassroots model looks to be a solid experiment in allowing events to grow in size organically as the market demands without incurring large-scale expenses. Softball will be about 100 times the size of wrestling tin terms of participation, but both will be equal in the ability to combine fun and competition."
For more information or photos, contact Chris Lorefice HERE.
The WWB Don Jung Hall of Merit may be found online at HERE.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
14 January 2011 / A look ahead to the first bodybuilding competition at the Sin City Shootout
In the past there were several LGBT bodybuilding competitions in non-Gay Games years, but this is no longer the case. It's a real pity because it helps build interest in the Gay Games. So we're very happy to have been invited by the hosts of the Sin City Shootout to organize a bodybuilding competition there.
It's the first year, and we haven't reached capacity in terms of registrations, so last-minute entries are welcome. Those participating are very motivated: we have two competitors traveling over 9000 miles to participate!
We will accept late entries up to check-in on Friday, January 13, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood
Hotel. So far the organization behind this event is doing a good job, and we're very pleased to be part of such a big sporting event in such an exciting place.
More info on the Sin City Shootout HERE.
More info on bodybuilding at the Shootout HERE.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Bodybuilding a new sport at Sin City Shootout
In the past there were several LGBT bodybuilding competitions in non-Gay Games years, but this is no longer the case. It's a real pity because it helps build interest in the Gay Games. So we're very happy to have been invited by the hosts of the Sin City Shootout to organize a bodybuilding competition there.
It's the first year, and we haven't reached capacity in terms of registrations, so last-minute entries are welcome. Those participating are very motivated: we have two competitors traveling over 9000 miles to participate!
We will accept late entries up to check-in on Friday, January 13, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood
Hotel. So far the organization behind this event is doing a good job, and we're very pleased to be part of such a big sporting event in such an exciting place.
More info on the Sin City Shootout HERE.
More info on bodybuilding at the Shootout HERE.
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