Well, I want to participate in the Gay Games in 2006 in Montreal. Reasons? I want to prove to myself than I am more than just a an image of what the gay men perceive me as - a bar employed slut with air up there instead know who the real Allen is. I know I can be in it and have a great time in the process. It is a goal to work at, but I do need advice on how to keep focus since it is about 3 yrs away. Any advice would be great! Thanks!
Allen
Full Version: ?s about being an athlete @ the Gay Games
do you have a background in any sports? what are you considering competing in?
i plan on being there myself...just haven't decided what sport(s) to compete in...
i plan on being there myself...just haven't decided what sport(s) to compete in...
I use to do sprints, however, I love what weightlifting has done to my body, so I could run or lightweight competition in bodybuilding. It is one of those two.
Hi, I've competed in four (4) Gay Games: '86 SF, '90 Vancouver, '94 NYC, and 2002 Sydney. My sport is diving. I also was a swimmer in '86 and '90. Let me promise you, your ambition to participate in Montreal 2006 will be one of the most rewarding adventures of your lives. Vast are the number of sports, so pick the ones you like the best or perform the best or both! But beware, although the Games enshrine the motto of "Participation" which I fully embrace, the competitions will be fierce. Word is, at least 20,000 athletes plan to register. See you there, but hope we meet online before we get there. I practiced this before going to Sydney. It was like having built in friends when I arrived. Any questions? Just ask! :cool:
Allen, glad to hear you want to take the plunge into the gay games. I have been to four of them and have enjoyed them all. The competition gets tougher every four years as participation grows, but the comraderie is worth it.
You can participate in both sports if you wish. If you are more concerned with getting a medal than just participating, you may want to focus on the sport you do best. It is really up to you. I don't know about bodybuilding, but in track and field it does help if you train with other people.
Whatever you decide, just do your best and have fun. Even if you don't win in your age group, you can always go back four years later and try again.
You can participate in both sports if you wish. If you are more concerned with getting a medal than just participating, you may want to focus on the sport you do best. It is really up to you. I don't know about bodybuilding, but in track and field it does help if you train with other people.
Whatever you decide, just do your best and have fun. Even if you don't win in your age group, you can always go back four years later and try again.
I think I know what I want ot do, but I want to hear from the guys who went to Sydney like Cyd or Jim. I wannna know what it was like from their perspective. Yeah, I read the artivles, but a firsthand account would make my decision easier.
Al
Al
Allen, our Gay Games archive contains several first-hand accounts of what it's like to compete. Having done it in 3 Games, I'd say it's totally worth it.
Allen,
No question you should plan to go. I first went in 1998 to Amsterdam and based on that experience I went to Sydney. Both were incredible experiences, you leave with such a feeling of accomplishment, of community, and of pride in glbt sports. Of course it is what you make of it, some people were not satisfied for one reason or another, but I think it is probably the best planned event I have ever been a part of. Even though the competition is fierce, most participants, whether novices or near-professionals, have a great attitude and understand that the goal is the participation and the comraderie, not winning at all costs. I will be going to Montreal even if I have a broken leg, being part of the Gay Games has been one of the highlights of my life. And because participation is the main goal of the games, you can prepare and train as much or as little as you want. Some guys I met went for the parties and the travel, others wouldn't even go out for a drink before their competition, which was fine for the triathletes who competed on the first day but hell on the marathoners who ran on the last day. Actually, I am tempted next time to sign up for other sports as well as my first love, basketball. I have a friend who played bball and also tried a track and field event, and to his surprise won a bronze in his age group. He was so proud he wore it the rest of the week.
One of my strongest memories was in Amsterdam, one day in the city we met a woman who had 5 gold medals around her neck. She had never participated in any competitions before but at 75 years old had signed up for power lifting. You could see the pride in her eyes, the spring in her step, she had accomplished something that went beyond the medal around her neck. To me her story was the essence of the Gay Games.
Go, tell your friends to go. It is an experience of a lifetime.
No question you should plan to go. I first went in 1998 to Amsterdam and based on that experience I went to Sydney. Both were incredible experiences, you leave with such a feeling of accomplishment, of community, and of pride in glbt sports. Of course it is what you make of it, some people were not satisfied for one reason or another, but I think it is probably the best planned event I have ever been a part of. Even though the competition is fierce, most participants, whether novices or near-professionals, have a great attitude and understand that the goal is the participation and the comraderie, not winning at all costs. I will be going to Montreal even if I have a broken leg, being part of the Gay Games has been one of the highlights of my life. And because participation is the main goal of the games, you can prepare and train as much or as little as you want. Some guys I met went for the parties and the travel, others wouldn't even go out for a drink before their competition, which was fine for the triathletes who competed on the first day but hell on the marathoners who ran on the last day. Actually, I am tempted next time to sign up for other sports as well as my first love, basketball. I have a friend who played bball and also tried a track and field event, and to his surprise won a bronze in his age group. He was so proud he wore it the rest of the week.
One of my strongest memories was in Amsterdam, one day in the city we met a woman who had 5 gold medals around her neck. She had never participated in any competitions before but at 75 years old had signed up for power lifting. You could see the pride in her eyes, the spring in her step, she had accomplished something that went beyond the medal around her neck. To me her story was the essence of the Gay Games.
Go, tell your friends to go. It is an experience of a lifetime.
I know what I am going to do for the Gay Games. Thank you for the confidence booster guys!!
Okay, one question ... what has changed at each of the Gay Games - are the participants more competitive? Are there any people that participated in the first Gay Games that still compete today??
Okay, one question ... what has changed at each of the Gay Games - are the participants more competitive? Are there any people that participated in the first Gay Games that still compete today??
I would love to hear experiences from people who have been to other gay sports events (gay softball world series, gay soccer world cup, gay swimming championships) and how they compare to the Gay Games.
Is the feeling truly special to the Gay Games, or do you get those same feelings at regular championships.
The reason I ask is that a sport I am involved in believes that our own event would be just as good as the GG...I disagree, but not having been to the GG, I can't say for sure...
Thots?
Is the feeling truly special to the Gay Games, or do you get those same feelings at regular championships.
The reason I ask is that a sport I am involved in believes that our own event would be just as good as the GG...I disagree, but not having been to the GG, I can't say for sure...
Thots?
Dupontred, what is your sport?
Allen,
I have a friend who has competed in all of the gay games in basketball, he won the gold in the first one in San Fran.
And to Dupontred, I play in the basketball tournaments around the country every year, which are lots of fun but do not compare at all to the games. For one thing, even though basketball is mostly an american sport, we have teams from other countries competing, and it is fun to meet and compete against those guys. But mostly it is the feeling that comes from being part of the experience with people from other sports and countries. And of course having a cute guy who is a volunteer greet you in an Australian accent, well, as Mastercard says, priceless. I can't wait to meet the french canadians in '06.
I have a friend who has competed in all of the gay games in basketball, he won the gold in the first one in San Fran.
And to Dupontred, I play in the basketball tournaments around the country every year, which are lots of fun but do not compare at all to the games. For one thing, even though basketball is mostly an american sport, we have teams from other countries competing, and it is fun to meet and compete against those guys. But mostly it is the feeling that comes from being part of the experience with people from other sports and countries. And of course having a cute guy who is a volunteer greet you in an Australian accent, well, as Mastercard says, priceless. I can't wait to meet the french canadians in '06.
My friend Mark Wussler, has participated in all of the six Gay Games. He is a swimmer from San Diego, and certainly one of the most decorated athletes in our movement. He has maybe 30 or more medals, and I believe a set of Games records. We talked about this in advance of going to Sydney last Nov. He remarked that he thought that as of Sydney, there would be about 75 persons, including himself who had participated in all 6 of the Games.
For motivation, I have the Advocate w/ the Gay Games participants in it. It does have Cyd's pic in it, in case you didn't know. It is in over three years, however, it is a nice goal to keep up for the next three years.
If you want more motivation, think of this: Montreal is close enough that you could have an impressive Outsports cheering section! 
No wonder why I like y'all!!
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