I was surprised at how difficult it was to find the dates for the games. I searched through several links starting at the Outsports stories (very good otherwise by the way) just to find the opening dates at the bottom of this link. Did I miss something?

(The festivities start October 25 and the athletic events on the November 2.)

I've only met one person who is actually competing from Philadelphia: a triathlete I think, who was at the Human Rights Campaign dinner here.

So how many folks out there are going to compete or attend the Games? Even if I can't go I'd love a vicarious participation.

Oh, and I'll be e-cheering loudly through the internet for all of you.

Several of us (around 40-50) are going from St. Louis. We have an organization in town (Team St. Louis) that supports everyone's efforts to attend the Games through fundraising and such.

St. Louis will be represented in several sectors. Tennis, volleyball, swimming, golf, track and field, even badminton.

The opening ceremonies are on 11/2 and the Games end a week later.

I will be attending the games doing track and field and the half marathon. This will be my fourth time going and each time has been a great experience.

It would be great to meet some others on this board who are going.

I wish I had the $$$ to go, but alas. I have been asked twice to play on this volleyball team from Chicago that is going, and I would LOVE to do it, but it was not in my budget earlier this year, and I don't want to blow my entire bonus check on this trip. Tempting, but I had to decline... :-(

My brother is going to the Gay Games with his best friend. When he informed his buddy that he was getting frequent-flyer miles from our dad to upgrade to first class (it is a hella long flight from the East Coast, after all), the friend asked, "What?!? You mean you won't fly coach to keep me company?!"

Bro's response? "I'll meet ya at the hotel."

Cyd and I will be there covering it for Outsports. Cyd will also be running track. I had wanted to do the javelin but didn't have time to train. We would love to meet fellow Outsporters down under.

I will be there participating in basketball and covering it for my newspaper. Hope to meet fellow Outsporters and root them on. . .unless of course they are playing basketball and not on my team :-)

Z

I'll be competing in the Olympic distance tri, along with a handful of swimming and track events. I'm actually arriving quite early (October 23rd) and making a long trip of this (don't head back to the states until November 21st). Anyone who wants to talk travel plans, feel free to drop me a line.
Cyd - what track events are you running in??

Wow, this is great. I don't know whether I'm feeling better cause I know about so many guys going or depressed because I can't.

I think I'll go with the positive. Life's easier.

Thanks guys.

I'm going - sailing with GUST - the Gay UK Sailing TeamGUST Website. Arrving on 25th September and we have 4 3-man/woman boats entered in the 85-strong fleet.
I was there for Mardi Gras this year and can't wait to get back - sailing in Sydney Harbour is fantastic. It also helps that my SO is Australian :-)

I'll probably just be doing the 4X100 and 4X400 relays - not really interested in doing the individual events.

Cyd, just remember: There's No I In Team.

I'm looking forward to the updates and photos to this site from Jim, Cyd & Brent from Sydney. I was blown away by the city--and the men too--during the Olympics. I love the show The Amazing Race and in the season 2 they went through Sydney--it looks, er, um, well, amazing. I can't go because of ongoing poverty issues.

I'm truly bummed. I was supposed to go with a new magazine to cover the event and compete in tennis (singles) but the magazine has never launched...and I'm playing well and have trained all year to be ready endurance-wise....I even have places to stay...anyway, I look forward to hearing everyone's first person reports...

I had no idea that there was a deal to broadcast the Games that has apparently fallen through.

Anyone have any idea what more is happening with that?

Would this SBS have been available in the USA?

Im just curious, what qualifications or background do you have to have in order to be a participant in the games? Is it similar to the regular Olympics where there are trials?

BTW goodluck Cyd

[quote]Originally posted by Mikesurf:
Im just curious, what qualifications or background do you have to have in order to be a participant in the games? Is it similar to the regular Olympics where there are trials?

BTW goodluck Cyd

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no...the gay games are inclusive.

just pay your fee and sign up by the deadline and you're in.

[quote]Originally posted by faydman:


no...the gay games are inclusive.

just pay your fee and sign up by the deadline and you're in.

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Which of course is not what Tom Waddell had in mind originally, but that's another story.

One of my favorite quotes, and I was not aware that it was the last utterance of Tom Waddell, is

"This should be interesting."


I find that attitude, when near death, to be both deeply revealing and profoundly inspiring.