When I first saw the old thread on the gay games-outgames schism, I had hoped that it would become a way to share ideas, to grow gay sports. Instead, it has become a nasty, hate-filled venom pit.

I was talking with a true leader in the gay sports movement just yesterday over a delightful cup of coffee. He stopped paying attention to all of this nonsense months ago because it seemed to him to be about politics and egos and not about personal best and making gay athletes feel good about themselves.

In closing this thread, and opening a new one, I'm hoping that some of you might take this to heart - start being more constructive and less destructive; start adding to people's lives instead of trying to make them feel bad about themselves. Enough bullshit. Enough namecalling. There are two separate international gay sports groups hosting quadrennial events now. To me, it speaks less to our division and more to our diversity. I hope the new thread can speak more to my vision of our new reality than the one so many have spread on the previous thread.

Let's all start the new year on the right foot . . .

[ December 31, 2004, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Cyd at Outsports ]

For informational purposes, here is a link to the old thread.

I stand corrected on the precise identity of the Berlin Greedhead Junta, and apologize to any Berliners whom I inadvertently mis-identified.

I must say to my former team-mate Cyd that we are in the presence of an on-going felony, where the choice is clear. To look for compromise is to become an accomplice to that crime.

I congratulate Roberto and his colleagues for creating a venue for airing the real issues confronting gay sports and the Games. I have full confidence in their bona fides, and I hope we can thereby move forward. It is essential that we strengthen the FGG to the extent that it can resist the greedhead and power-maniac impulses to hijack the Games!! We must build on the Chicago Games in 2006 to move into the future with confidence.

Finally, I think I may speak for a lot of gay people who are enraged at what Montreal has tried to pull off. We love sports, but we just hate the greedheads and power-maniacs who buzz around sports organizations. We are still struggling at the local level to throw off the "ownership" of sports like softball by the bar-owners. As I detailed in the historical experience of the Los Angeles regional sports alliance, it is possible to move into the post-ghetto evolution of the gay sports community, but fending off the greedheads and power-maniacs is not easy. In the history of the Gay Games, we can see great success, but recurrent organizational fiascos abetted by, probably caused by, greedhead impulses and power mania. Montreal has probably done us all a big favor by trying to seize the Games.

After we transfix these felons with our [metaphorical - lol!] javelins, we need to foil any future greedhead juntas. There is no time or necessity to "make nice" with felons in Montreal and Berlin - they can crawl back after they give up the $200 million dream.

Charlie, I hope you can leave your hateful remarks and namecalling in the past. It would serve all parties better if you could contribute to the growth of these organizations, instead of trying to use venom to fuel the flame war that has developed between them.

Try being positive and affirmative - no matter how hard it may be.

I do hate what these greedheads are trying, and I hope, failing to do. I believe it is important to put a name on what they are doing - and it cannot be a very nice name. There is no available compromise to negotiate - only a fight to the end.

I'm sorry you feel the way you do, and I'm sorry to have offended you, but there it is. If you want to play up to them, go ahead - perhaps you see some advantage in doing so.

If you don't like what I have to say, ban me. It's your website.

Cyd,

I have tried really hard to not bring this up but you have still not fessed up to the relationship between yourself and Outsports and the Montreal folks!

Unfortunately for you, I read the letter on this site where you and Jim thank Montreal for being such a big contributor to your successful year in spite of the fact that you have repeatedly refused to acknowledge that they even have any connection here!

You can continue all you want calling people that disagree with you by any names you choose - but it is clear that you are gaining benefit from this situation.

Why not simply state it as per just about any conflict of interest policy I have ever seen and then we would all know that you have a vested interest in one side and could take your words with the proper grains of salt.

I am not stating that your opinions are not valid or that OutSports is not providing a great service, I am stating that I believe your business relationship makes your attempts to call people names just a bit stilted.

Ken

We have stated this a bunch of times and I get annoyed having to keep repeating it to the conspiratorial-minded among you: Montreal is an advertiser on our site. It's as simple as that. They have no editorial say over anything on our site, another fact we have repeated over and over.

Jim,

I will read back to see that you have said it that way as that is not my memory. My memory was that Rich had brought it up and both you and Cyd told him it was not any of anyone's business.

My apology for asking again since you have made it so clear that they have paid you money.

My follow up thought is that you both have a vested interest in the success of one event over the other.

I guess I react to Cyd and his characterizations of people in such a negative way.

It is okay to be in disagreement.

When all is said and done, it may be that more Gays and Lesbians and their allies get together to celebrate a rightful place in Society. That will be great.

I suggest it is not a good thing to ask for if inaccuracies are put out there on your site and not addressed.

That should go for inaccuracies no matter where they come from. Facts need to be able to stand alone.

I am hoping that readers can tell the difference between a fact and an opinion. I guess some people write their opinions as facts and it takes a studious reader to sort the difference.

Just the way of the world I guess!!

Hope everyone had a great New Year and also that the help needed is getting to our friends on the Indian Ocean rim.

Ken

JESUS CHRIST YOU PEOPLE!

Take your egos out of the equation and pay attention to your own event. All of this name-calling suits no one. Hello, these events are supposed to be for the athletes and spectators.

But hey, what the f*** do I know, I'm only an athlete.

You know what? Reading these vapid and shrewd remarks is really turning me off to participate in any of the Gaymes. I thought it was suppose to bring all of us together and not tear each other apart.

I just don't understand.

Allen, join bballrob and me and whoever else wants to play. Who gives a sh** if it's Montreal or Chicago, there's room for everyone.

Allen - amen to GatorJamie. Sign up and go - heck - you're close enough you could go to both events if you can get the time off.

Oh, and in regard to this photo? Yes

Fine, I'll be the geek. A New hope is Episode IV. Episode II is Attack of the Clones, which is how I thought we got into this mess in the first place.

As my numerous fans [lol!] know, I have never suggested that Outsports.com was complicit with the [non-Floridian -lol!] GJs in Montreal/Berlin, and my recent hostile exchange with Cyd should not be interpreted as anti-Outsports. Cyd and I have issues which are completely unrelated to Outsports and the Schism, which don't need to be dragged into the discussion, although his intervention carries personal overtones, IMO. But that's not relevant.

I have always tried to keep my arguments and rhetoric focused on what the GJ has and is doing, and on why they need to be confronted and defeated - principally through positive strengthening of FGG and a great success in Chicago. I have also used ridicule and my vaunted sledgehammer wit, where appropriate, to hit the mendacity and selfish interests of the GJ and its shills. I am an outsider, a munchkin [lol], disinterested except for my love of the Games, with nothing to win or lose [although one of my sports was cut from the LA proposal in retaliation - lol!] I could let loose freely on the evil-doers.

I fully realize that there is a broad norm against fiery confrontation and frank exchange, and that people shrink from controversy. Some fights are thrust upon us - as in this case - and compromise is impossible. Once resolved, reconciliation might be possible - we'll see. But until the war is over, you can't deceive yourself that "being nice" or making concessions will make the conflict go away. It won't.

Cyd has told me that Montreal has a valid point of view and that he does not agree that this POV is antithetical to the broader interests of gay sports. I disagree. The interests of circuit party promoters and local tourism, if dominant, threaten to destroy the Gay Games.

This is not a purely theoretical, but an actual threat. Thank god that Roberto and Kevin, and many others, have actively responded to this threat, and appear to be winning. If my javelin tosses have skewered or made a few malefactors uncomfortable, I am satisfied. Contra Cyd, I can be cooperative and constructive, and am so, when appropriate, which is most of the time, but this is a zero-sum game, and the other side is mendacious and corrupt. :mad: :mad: :mad:

So, I have a question ... whether or not you are participating in Chicago or Montreal or BOTH - what sport are you planning on participating?

But...enough about me and KeyWestGuy... wink

Allen - Chicago, short-course triathlon.

[ January 04, 2005, 06:21 AM: Message edited by: GatorJamie ]

I'd like to do the physique competition in Chicago.

If not, then biking. I do enough of it.

Sooo...why not try the tri? 'S fun!

I can't swim. Growing up, it was more important to get the farm work done than to learn how to swim.

You can't swim yet. Swimming's a great workout and there are tons of adult classes.

I can sink faster than Leo in Titanic.

Allen I'm shocked, with a body like yours and you aren't at the pool showing it off? eek!

Ooooh, this is a fun - a real live sports related question.

Basketball was my sport at the last GG's I attended (NYC). We took 4th place. In the semi-final game (that would have put us in the gold/silver championship game had we won), we lost by a single basket. As the bone continued to be taken out of our mouths, we went on to lose the bronze medal game.

It is difficult to pick my sport for 2006. I still compete competitively in: volleyball (beach and indoor), basketball, flag football and softball. I am a former tennis player and swam the 50 breast in high school.

At this point, I'm committed and registered for softball. Would be fun to play with the same team that won the Milwaukee tournament this past season. T-Baggers

But who knows, in my advanced age (will be 41 in 2006) I may opt for darts.

[ January 04, 2005, 08:38 AM: Message edited by: CHIathlete ]

CHIathlete: re your advanced age (41):

Too bad you don't do martial arts. We have a "senior's" division, which is 35 and over!

(And, I might add, that's where the best competitors generally are, so it's not like you get a break at "senior." )

And according to that bathroom stall in the G section of the Humphrey Terminal, you go down faster than the Titanic! eek!

Love ya Allen like the fat kids love cake...... mmmmmmmm cake..... (gargling sounds) :cool:

I have a challenge/interest/question/? for people about sanctioning bodies for our individual sports.

Recently (on the previous thread) I asked Tomski about the sanctioning body for Karate (the World Karate Fed.) at the Outgames. It struck me that when I followed the links to get the rules, I could find no mention of the Outgames themselves on their web site nor on their International Calendars. I found that wierd. Why not? (Tom is checking up with some of his colleagues and will get back to me.)

It struck me that many other sports may be sanctioned by "mainstream" bodies, and we are certainly pulling in judges from the straight world (I know this was true with ballroom dancing in Sydney, as the judges were amazed how interesting same-sex dancing was, with the ability to switch the "lead" back and forth.

My challenge/interest/question is: who sanctions YOUR activity at international meets, and have they included the gay events on their general calendars and websites? After all, isn't one of the purposes of GLBT sport to promote positive visibility?

Anyone?

That would be the International Triathlon Union, and good gawd, no, they don't promote gay events. They've probably got their hands full with doping scandals. Then again, I've never heard of a gay triathlon and don't know many gay triathletes. As far as I know, I'm the only one in my local club.

FYI: Triathlon/duathlon is the fastest growing amateur sport in the U.S.

[ January 07, 2005, 06:01 AM: Message edited by: GatorJamie ]

More that Netball even? Wow.

Now that you mention it - Gay Games internet flaming seems to be strong as well. wink

...hehe, touche!

Well, I am sure the NBA will have a strong presence at both the Gay Games and the Outgames, but I doubt if we will get an official sanction. wink

Boy, wouldn't it be great if the Bulls would have a bit of presence at basketball, the Bears at flag football, the Blackhawks at hockey, and the Cubbies and White Sox at softball. What is the WNBA team in Chicago? That would be so cool. Just a player at the finals or something like that.

No WNBA team in Chicago.

And who can we get for other sports? I would love to see Roddick at Tennis but he isn't from Chicago. Maybe Billy Jean will come out and play (I'm going to play Mixed Doubles just in case!!!)

Ken

Billie Jean is already a Gay Games Ambassador, perhaps she'll play too!

Fédération de Natation du Québec is the sanctioning body for swimming for the Montreal Outgames and the Outgames are listed on their calendar of events.

Masters Swimming Ontario lists both Outgames and Gay Games on their calendar.

THOUGHT THIS MIGHT INTEREST SOME OF YOU:

The Future is Bright
GLISA's executive director says that a sports movement deserves more than the bickering of the last year
By Rachel Corbett
Executive Director
GLISA - Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association

When I began to work for the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association, I had no idea what to expect. As a seasoned professional from the mainstream sports world, I anticipated the usual challenges that come with the task of building sport. I did not anticipate that this journey would be such a ‘slugfest’, nor did I expect that in my first week on the job complete strangers on this very web site would publicly label me as immoral, unethical and incompetent.

The divide between the Federation of Gay Games and GLISA, between Chicago and Montreal, and between Gay Games and Outgames is hurting our community terribly. It casts both sides in a negative light. The world looks on in bemused amazement, because our potential is as enormous as our inability to achieve it. The perfectly logical question people are asking is, why would anyone take the risk of supporting us, partnering with us, or hosting our events if our community is so viciously divided?

My observations come from a place that may be different from those who have traditionally been involved in LGBT games. My background is sport, and only sport: professionally I earn my livelihood as a consultant in sport, and have done so for 15 years. I lecture in sport management at a Canadian university. Earlier in my career I held employment positions in municipal recreation, sport and culture departments, working with non-profit organizations to build community programs. Most recently I have been working almost exclusively with national sport governing bodies in Canada on strategic and technical planning, organizational development and change initiatives.

As I see it, the LGBT sport movement is a sleeping giant. My professional peers are envious that I have this unique opportunity to be a part of waking up this giant. Let me share some observations on what this task should, and could, entail. My hope in writing this is to challenge individuals to set aside their short-term interests and think about the bigger picture. And let me also be clear that these are my opinions, not the opinions of GLISA or of Montreal 2006.

Developing sport is not rocket science. The building blocks are the same across disciplines and demographics. Key among them: getting to a lot of people early (which in mainstream sport is usually through the school system), creating a pyramid structure so that participants can move seamlessly from novice to intermediate to advanced skill levels, and building a robust calendar of events that supports the skills pyramid and creates opportunities for play. There is a vast body of theory and literature about development models that can, and should, be consulted in designing a sport system for the LGBT community. Many of these models and successes just happen to come from Canada.

This concept of developing sport has a direct bearing on any discussion of LGBT games because historically, these games have been simply a quadrennial event. These events have also been quite isolated, in that there has been little transfer of knowledge, expertise or best practices from one event to the next. This lack of continuity makes partnership and sponsorship development practically impossible, and also has trickle-down effects on others. For example, I have learned that many city teams really only function about one-eighth of the time – or that final six month period of a four year cycle prior to an international games. Our challenge in developing LGBT sport is to make a transition from ‘event’ to ‘movement’, by investing smartly in the other seven-eighths of the quadrennial schedule.

Canada also has a strong tradition of hosting sport events. Our success at this is surprising given what a small country we are. Canadian sport policy at the federal level recognizes this particular strength we have and Canadian sport leaders are becoming much more strategic in their efforts to secure and stage hosted events. In recent memory Canada has hosted two Olympics (and is about to host a third), two Commonwealth Games, two Pan American Games, one World University Games, and numerous world championships in hockey, curling, figure skating, track and field and, next year, aquatics. I recite this list only to substantiate that there is a significant body of knowledge developed in Canada on successful hosting of major sporting events.
Legacy is another vital principle that must be reflected in the development of any successful sport movement. The concept of legacy means that a sporting event leaves its host community better off than it was before. Legacy can be physical, program-based or personnel-based. Physical legacy includes new and improved facilities that did not exist previously. Program-based legacies are the activities made possible by the facilities and other resources brought together through hosting partnerships. Personnel legacies are the professional staff and volunteers in the community who have gained new skills and experience. Taken together, all these legacies create a ‘capacity’ to maintain and grow sport that did not exist before.

In Canada, the impact of sport legacies is visible. For example, today’s legacy of Calgary hosting the Winter Olympics in 1988 is world-class winter sports facilities as well as top-quality sport programs operating out of these facilities, supported by sport science and research. National teams from around the world now come to Calgary for extended periods of time to train. Almost half of the Canadian team competing at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 were athletes and coaches who lived and trained in Calgary, and this ratio will likely exceed 50 percent for the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

The impact of legacy is also visible in Edmonton, Alberta, which has in recent years hosted a World University Games, a Commonwealth Games, a soccer world junior championship, a world figure skating championships and a world track and field championships – the first one to be held in the Americas and only the second one to be held outside Europe. Next year Edmonton hosts the World Masters Games, and the year after that the Women’s Rugby World Cup. This is all pretty heady stuff for a small city on the northern Canadian prairie. How does Edmonton do it? Because the legacy of thousands of skilled volunteers created by the Commonwealth Games in 1978 has been continuously enhanced by each successive international hosting experience, such that today, Edmonton has a global reputation for staging a well-organized event.

The purpose of these anecdotes about sport development, hosting and legacy is to simply demonstrate that there are instructive lessons to be learned from mainstream sport successes. The gay and lesbian sport movement has the luxury of taking these practices and implementing the best of them in our LGBT world. No wheel needs to be reinvented. None of us needs to try anything new or unproven. Everything that the LGBT global sport community needs to thrive and grow has been done before. The insights, lessons, templates and best practices are all there, just waiting for us to pick and choose the best ones and put them into effect.

I firmly believe that the future holds incredible promise, notwithstanding this nasty divisive phase. I see a gay and lesbian sport movement that offers a compelling competition calendar to create continuous opportunities for participants; competitive events featuring the highest standards of facilities and organization; growing capacity at every level of the LGBT sport system, from local to international; events that are fully sanctioned by mainstream international sport governing bodies; and a viable business model for hosting games, whether offered on a national, continental and world scale.

As I look ahead, a see a number of possible options or outcomes. The Gay Games and the Outgames could continue to compete against each other until ultimately one succeeds and one folds its cards and goes home. Or, the two games could learn to co-exist peacefully. The games could differentiate themselves by having one focus on large world events while the other focuses on smaller continental events. Or, one could focus on the North American market while the other does games elsewhere in the world. The two games could duplicate each other but go on alternating cycles so that there is a large world event every two years. Or, the two games could become distinctive based on their menu of sports, such as summer versus winter, or indoor versus outdoor. These are just some ideas off the top of my head, all drawn from the experiences of the mainstream sport world. You can’t disagree that some of these outcomes are attractive. What a luxury to have this much potential and all these opportunities in our future!

Let’s think bigger than we have been doing. Our community out there, the hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian sportsmen and sportswomen around the world, both expect and deserve it. We owe it to them. This is about them, not about the FGG, GLISA, Montreal, Chicago, or our respective ‘brands’, the Gay Games and the Outgames. Let’s put the last year behind us, take insights and lessons from those who have traveled this path countless times before, and work together on the bright future that is LGBT sport.
Dec. 11, 2004

Hey all,

The word of the day today is inclusion!

I had an opportunity to work with some amazing deaf athletes in the past and look forward to seeing many deaf athletes and spectators at the Gay games in Chicago. I have attached an article that discusses a great sponsorship for the Gay Games which follows up on previous supports for deaf athletes at previous Gay Games.

Ken


Gay Games Chicago Signs Sponsorship Deal For Sign Language Interpretation

Chicago, IL – Chicago-based Deaf Communication by Innovation (DCI), a gay-owned and deaf-owned company, will coordinate International Sign interpreters for the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. In a sponsorship agreement valued at almost US$90,000, DCI will oversee daytime and evening sign language interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, artists and fans attending the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival. The arrangement includes interpreter training in international sign language skills to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing people from all countries will be able to participate fully at the Gay Games.

DCI representatives will also attend the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD), an international deaf LGBT conference, and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), a national conference for sign language interpreters, on behalf of Gay Games Chicago. DCI will sponsor various social events for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community during the Gay Games

Raymond Rodgers, the President and majority owner of DCI, served as a volunteer international sign interpreter at Gay Games V in Amsterdam, where he gained extensive experience in all aspects of interpreting in an international environment. Rodgers has been an active member of the Gay Games VII Marketing Committee since Chicago was awarded the Gay Games and has helped to ensure that the large LGBT deaf/hard-of-hearing community in Chicago is well-represented at all stages of planning for Gay Games VII. For more information about DCI, visit http://www.deafcomm.net.

"Deaf Communication by Innovation is extremely proud to be the exclusive sign interpreting services provider for Gay Games VII,” said Raymond Rodgers. “We will do our best to do great work for a great cause."

“We are extremely grateful to Raymond Rodgers and the staff at DCI for this generous contribution,” said Tracy Baim, Chicago Games, Inc. (CGI) Fundraising Committee Co-Chair. “Inclusion is one of the key values of the Gay Games. This arrangement should send a clear message to the worldwide deaf and hard of hearing community that they will be welcome with open arms at the 2006 Gay Games.” Baim worked with CGI board members Roberto Tijerina and Amelia Lopez to secure the sponsorship.


Jan. 4 2004

I read the GLISA propaganda [posted here by TOMSKI] some weeks ago, and responded to the purported author immediately. I said that once the outrageous attempted hijacking of the Gay Games ceased, I was prepared to take seriously the various elements contained within the GLISA press release, but anything said now had to be taken within that context. No response, of course.

It screams hypocrisy to advocate a kumbaya interchange about promoting gay sports, when the velvet glove covers the mailed fist of tourism and circuit party greedhead interests. Part company with those interests, then we can talk!

In the meantime [pun intended], let's make Chicago the best Gay Games ever and a model for the future! Ignore the desperate death agony of the Out[house]games!

So, uh, who else is going to partake in either games? And what events??

I'm going in Martial Arts, as you probably ascertain by my previous post. I've filled out the forms for both (but paid neither yet.) Competition-wise, Chicago is the better bet for me, as I do Kung Fu, and their tournement is an "open" (all styles) one. Martial Arts at the Gay Games Sydney was very good. Montreal only offers Karate, so I can't register in the "forms or kata" (choregraphed moves that show the elements of your style) division. I can do point fighting at both, though. But do I want to register in Montreal and pay $200+ cdn for as little as 2 minutes of compitition?

That being said, there is a good chance I will go to Montreal, either as first choice (possibly go and not compete) or as well as competing in Chicago. It is an amazing culture, friendly and defined, unique. It's like nowhere else in the world, and with an invasion of gay people from all over the world... wow.

I hear Chicago is a great place, but in my mind I see it as just another interesting American city. Please do not think that is meant as a put-down, as I live in a fabulous place, Vancouver, but it's just another interesting Canadian city. Montreal is truly different.

As to the competition, time will tell. I really hope both are AT LEAST moderate successes. That's best for everybody.

Hi,

Recently I have been asked by many people (many being over 10 in this case) about what they should do in 2006. All of these people knew that I was in Johannesburg in 2000 when Montreal was selected to be the host of Gay Games VII. They felt that I would have an inside track on what was happening and what would be the right thing to do.

If one person has a perception, that is individual, when more people have the same perception it starts to become something bigger. The perception that these people had was that the Montreal Games are different than the Gay Games in some way but they didn't know how. I had to admit that everything I knew led me to believe that the model was the same. I couldn't tell them that I was aware of any concrete differences other than the sports being offered were not identical.

Then came the big question - Which event should I go to? Of course this question was only relevant if their event was offered at both Games.

I have advised everyone that they need to look at the variables that affect them and make their decision. I also advise them that I will be going for the tried and true event in Chicago Gay Games VII.

To a person they have agreed that the Gay Games has a very attractive history. Weirdly (or maybe not) not one of them mentioned the financial issues of past Gay Games. Perhaps that is because it never touched them, I don't know. They had all heard of the problems but it was not an issue for them.

The bottom line for this group was not the same for everyone.

Most said that they would go to Chicago and participate in Gay Games and felt that since neither Montreal or GLISA had anything to do with putting on previous events such as this, there was a risk involved.

A couple said they would go to Montreal because that event is Canadian and they wanted to see Eastern Canada.

None of them said that they would not go to either Games because of this "schism" That was the best news I heard.

That makes me believe that we will come out the other side in a positive way.

Make no mistake about my support for the Gay Games as an event. I do not pretend to be anything but a supporter of the Gay Games. This doesn't mean that I am hoping that the Montreal event fails - contrary to that I am hoping that the world will see that Gays and Lesbians everywhere are participating in sport and cultural activities on a huge scale. If this changes the way that we are seen in the world, and that change is positive, I will be very happy.

The bottom line for me was very simple -

Gay Games VII or OutGames I?

Ken

I am seriously thinking of playing softball in Chicago (especially if the T-Baggers are going to be there ). Anyone who's played in the past, is there a place for a co-ed team??? I looked, and it wasn't exactly clear if there were even any co-ed teams allowed.

Jeffrey


Go Chicago...Go Montreal...Just Go

[ January 13, 2005, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: KSigSpartan ]

Oh, the T-Baggers will be there!

Did you see us in Milwaukee?

KSig - there are 2 divisions (Open and Women's). It's just like NAGAAA. The Open division is open to both sexes, so co-ed teams would have to play in that division. Most teams in the Open division are all male, but there will be some co-ed, especially in the C level division.

In addition to the Open and Women's Slow Pitch Softball tournaments at the Gay Games, Gay Games VII will also feature a women's fast pitch softball tournament. This is only available to women and is one division. The tournament director may choose to split the division for medal rounds if registration warrants.

The Gay Games VII Softball Competition Details were upgraded last night, as were details associated with Bowling, Beach Volleyball, Figure Skating, Volleyball, Basketball and Darts. As these upgrades happen, we note them on our News Page so people can check in just one place to see if information has changed.

Kevin Boyer
(First Base - Chicago T'Baggers)
Gay Games VII

[ January 13, 2005, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: KevinB ]

[posted on behalf of SCBL]

8 January 2005

CHICAGO BADMINTON UPDATE

Second City Badminton League set to begin inaugural season.

The league is part of the LGBT sports organization, Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association.

LOCATION: Margate Park, a Chicago Park District facility located at 4921 N. Marine Dr, Chicago, IL. Margate Terrace and Argyle Street at Lake Shore Drive.

TEAMS: SCBL has registered 24 teams for the inaugural season. 85 players total.

FORMAT: This season will be doubles competition between teams made up of same and mixed gender teams. The league is divided into two divisions. The competitive/experienced division, aka COCKsure, and the recreational/inexperienced division, aka COCcurious.

SCHEDULE: SCBL will play on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 pm, January 13, 2005 through April 28, 2005. The schedule will include a 13 week season schedule and a 2 week playoff tournament.

GOAL: In preparation for Gay Games VII it was decided to put together a league that would provide the opportunity of learning and playing badminton in the LGBT community in and around Chicago. Our intent is to create a league built on friendship and competition that will hopefully inspire local athletes to participate in the Gay Games badminton tournament.

FUTURE PLANS: The league intends to host the first gay badminton tournament in the U.S. sometime in the next year. Reaching out to gay athletes across the continent and beyond to draw badminton players to Chicago. The league will offer singles and doubles competition in future seasons as part of projected league growth.

LEAGUE COMMITTEE:
Mark Febonio, Co-Director
Lucas Wonn, Co-Director
Mike Sarna, social director
Norvyn Uytiepo, scheduling
Doug Malm, divisionary
Terry Rivett, marketing/creative chair

Links: Gay Games VII Badminton Information
Second City Badminton League

[ January 13, 2005, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: KevinB ]

The newest OutGames newsletter is just out. One of the highlights is that they have extended the discounted early booking prices until the end of this month (January 31). One other piece of news that jumped out at me was the mention that as of January 10 OutGames has passed the 3000 registration mark, with registrations now in from over 50 different countires. Some 40%+ of the 3000 registrations are from outside of North America. I think that is a very encouraging sign for the organizers to have that kind of international support this early, considering this is a first time event.

Here is the link for those of you not on the OutGames email list

http://www.montreal2006.org/en_newsletter.html

[ January 14, 2005, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Travelpat ]

Pat,

Haven't had a chance to read that yet so I'm wondering how many are actually paid? I'm guessing they are still lumping them all together as several people that "registered" on the World Reg Day still have not received any billings or invoices of any kind.

I have no doubt that this could be interest but in the real world of event planning, a paid entrance is worth many multiples of a declared intention.

I heard that Montreal has just about had the World Aquatics Games removed from that city due to a lack of support. The final announcement should be due in a couple of weeks unless the organizng committee can raise more support for their event. The governments of Montreal, Quebec and Canada have already sunk about 15 million dollars in support for the event and it may still go under.

Hopefully they can get things turned around but I have heard that it is just about impossible at this point.

Ken

Hey Ken:
I'll try to find out for you just how many of the 3000+ have paid already. When I find out I'll let you know.

As for the Aquatics championship problems, FINA is supposed to be meeting with various officials of the Montreal organizing committee for that event on January 18 to decide whether or not to keep the event in Montreal. Apparently the problems there as far as I can tell from some of the stories in the media here, are totally related to a complete failure to attract corporate support for that event. The governments all came through with all of their promised funds to build the needed facilites etc. My understanding is that the budget called for something like $10 - $12 million in corporate sponsorships and up until a few weeks ago they had not even attracted 1 million of that. Certainly does not speak well of that organizing committee, especially when contrasting their lack of success with the OutGames overwhelming success at attracting private sponsorships. So for the sake of aquatics in Canada I hope they do succeed in keeping the event. We desperately need a shot in the arm in aquatics in this country and I think that event would help immensely. I have heard in the last few days they have raised 4 million dollars towards that shortfall - so we will see what happens. I suspect corporate Canada has been a little slow to step up to the plate in supporting this event, partly because of the disarray of our national swim program right now and our dismal performance in the pool at the Olympics. Corporations want to be tied to winners, and we aren't winning much in the pools these days.

Enough about the Aquatics championship in this board though, since really their sponsorship problems can not really be related to the OutGames who as I mentioned have had very good success in their sponsorship efforts. It would sort of be like putting forth an argument that now that the Expos have left town the Canadiens must be soon to leave as well - which of course we all know that ain't going to happen, whenever the NHL does start playing again.

I'm off now to a big Team Toronto fundraiser at the CanStage production of the play Take Me Out. We've sold Gala tickets and have a silent auction tonight as well. Ticket sales were OK but not quite as good as we had hoped, but after we include proceeds from the silent auction we are hoping to raise $3000.00+ for Team Toronto's bursary fund tonight. Have to help people get to Montreal after all.

OK - Kevin - Chicago too! wink
Cheers,
Pat

[ January 15, 2005, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Travelpat ]

Hey Pat,

Thanks for offering to look into that stat for me but I am thinking it really doesn't matter that much.

So far the folks in Montreal have given us the numbers as if the people had completed full registrations and paid in full at that time. We know it is not true and so do the many people that have opted to pay in that manner and yet they are still telling eveyone that they have everyone registered.

To be clear, it isn't your stats that I concern myself with, it is the attmept of the Montreal folk to get the "sheep mentality" working by maxing their registrations to make everyone think Montreal is the event to go to in 2006! Time will tell on that issue but their attitude that we will all follow is quite insulting.

You were very gentle with me in regards to the Swimming event as it could relate to the OutGames. You are correct that they are unrelated other than the city of hosting. To be clear though, you may be incorrect in stating real dollars for the OutGames that are not there. The FINA people are looking for real sponsorship dollars and not value in kind. Real dollars are harder to get for anyone these days.

We will see how this will all filter out in the months to come.

What still irks me though is the direct statements by the GLISA folks when they rejected reconciliation talks due to the concept that they and the FGG are the -only organizations that host truly International GLBT Sporting events- when in fact they have yet to host anything. Also, they leave out the EGLSF when they do not acknowledge EuroGames.

After the summer of 2006, it will be fun to look back at this and see how the seventh Gay Games and the first OutGames fared.

Of course with GLISA now on their third incarnation of their final date for application to host OutGames 2 with no takers, it could very well be that the Montreal OutGames is a games without a numeral!!

Ken