Just wondering if people on the board are planning on going to the Gay Games in Sydney next November. I'll be there, hopefully running track (and reporting on it for Outsports of course)

I will be joining Team St. Louis in Sydney. Hitting the tennis courts.

Cyd,

I had thought about going. However, I'm told that there aren't any hotel rooms available, and I've not booked any thing.

My other half wanted to run, but it looks like we won't be there. Regardless if I go or not, I don't see myself playing hockey unless some team going needs an additional player.

Trevor

There are rooms available. The city can't possibly be rented out with only 2,500 registered for the Games thus far.

In past Gay Games, we have run into the phenomenon of travel entrepreneurs making block bookings in the host city, so that it is entirely possible that Sydney is booked. This has the evident effect of discouraging people to register. Later, when they cannot sell their bookings [at a hefty markup as I recall], travel entrepreneurs release their bookings, and there is a sudden last minute surge of hotel rooms. Unfortunately, the Gay Games administration has been rigid about adding late registrations, so no one can take advantage of this availability.

My suggestion is to gamble by registering, buying an airline ticket, and then waiting to pick up a room at the last minute. This is, of course, not for the faint of heart.

It's too bad that FOGG and the local committees are so caught up with more basic questions of putting on the Games that they cannot attack this pernicious dysfunction. It is sad that so many more people could participate if the profiteers were not trying to gouge their own community.

The only way I'll be going is if I have someone to go with.

I'm going. I'm debating whether to play tennis with Team NY, or just enjoy the events and the country. Either way, I'm there.

thought you all might like to know: there are negotiations underway to broadcast the games via satellite, and definite plans to broadcast via the web.

I'm looking forward to playing hoops with Team Chicago. Hopefully international travel will be fine this time next year.

Z

Don't hold your breath for tv or internet broadcasts of the Gay Games. The one sport where this IS most likely to happen, though, is figure skating.

It's really unfortunate the Gay Games will likely be ignored again. I'm sure Showtime, if administrators had any kind of vision, could tie in occassional coverage, with broadcasts of Queer as Folk. Certainly you wouldn't have to do every event but the semi finals and final action sandwiched between the show would be benificial.

Z

There are a few of us here in KC who are planning to go to the Games. My partner and I will either play tennis or mountain bike, and one of our friends is going to do the triathlon. We haven't started travel plans yet, so I hope the hotel room situation isn't that bad. We're definitely looking forward to the trip to Australia and the competition!

With gay.com having the internet rights to Gay Games, you can be sure it'll be some stupid and limited coverage. Their prissy editor, Tom Musbach, obsesses about figure skating, figure skating, and oh yes, figure skating.

Plenty of "sexy shirts" for sale with "pitcher" or "catcher", though! That's about it.

Message for Trevor

Sydney is not booked out for the Gay Games, there is a glut of rooms available.

Suggest you go to the the 2002 site: www.sydney2002.org.au

You will find a list of preferred travel agents who can assist.