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ABSOLUT VODKA and BLU To Help Fund Eastern European Participation in Gay Games® VIII Cologne 2010

ABSOLUT VODKA and the German BLU publishing group have both announced partnerships with Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 to help bring Eastern European participants to next year's Gay Games in Cologne. ABSOLUT and BLU are making a contribution to the Gay Games 2010 Scholarship programme that will help provide funds to lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender athletes and artists from Eastern Europe who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend the sports & cultural festival.

"Gays and lesbians from Eastern Europe are often targeted by homophobic hate groups," said Annette Wachter, CEO of the Cologne Gay Games. "We hope that by bringing Eastern European participants to the Gay Games, we can help strengthen self-esteem and inspire them so that they can achieve progress in their own countries."

"With this money we will help finance the participation fees, travel and accommodations for many athletes," said Wachter. "Without this donation, participants would have had no chance to come to the Cologne Gay Games."

The Gay Games Sports & Cultural Festival was founded in 1982 and takes place every four years. Everyone is welcome regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic/artistic ability, physical challenge, age, or health status. The motto of the Gay Games is "Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best."™

Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 will take place 31 July to 7 August 2010. With 34 sports and five cultural events, the Cologne Gay Games are expected to draw 12,000 participants, more than the Olympic Games. For more information, including how to register, visit www.games-cologne.com (English) or www.games-cologne.de (German).

Diving Shot: Courtesy of Bob Olayas

 

 

GLLAM 2009 will soon arrive in London

It's only a month before the opening of GLLAM 2009 (Gay & Lesbian London Aquatic Meet) and the event has already attracted over 200 competitors, spectators and volunteers from across Europe and the UK.

The competition takes place every year and is hosted by Out to Swim. It will feature a swim meet, water polo tournament and synchronised swimming demonstration.

There are still opportunities for you to get involved in this year's event no matter what your skill or experience level might be.

For more information, registration and competition details check out Out to Swim's website at www.outtoswim.org

Gay Polo League launches new website

We ran a feature on the newly formed Gay Polo League who are based in LA in our July/August edition (see cover left) last year.

They have just revamped their website as part of a drive to attract new members. So give them your support. You don't have to have had vast experience to get involved in this great social sport. In their own words,

"We represent a cross section of ages, professions, sizes and shapes. Some of us have riding experience. Some of us never sat on horse before. Our common ground lies in a shared desire to meet and engage with other gay men and women while enjoying the challenging, graceful and beautiful sport of Polo. We are the Gay Polo League. Our league grows and evolves steadily. Come join us. You will enjoy GPL’s social and athletic aspects. Most importantly, you will benefit from participating in a sport rich with history, tradition, speed and skill. We guarantee you will be 'hooked'!"

So check out the website - www.gaypolo.com

 

Barclaycard Freerun Championships hit London

On Wednesday 3rd September 2008, London will play host to the inaugural Barclaycard World Freerun Championships.  The event, taking place at Camden's Roundhouse, is the first ever international competition for the pioneering urban sport of freerunning and is expected to attract an audience of over 2,000.  For one night only, 24 freerunners from 17 countries will tackle a specially-designed course that will enable them to showcase the energy and complexity of the sport.

Amongst the challengers for the title Barclaycard World Freerun Champion are British hopes Pip Andersen of Somerset and Tim Shieff from Derby.  They will be up against freerunners from as far afield as Brazil, South Africa, the United States and New Zealand.  Each athlete will perform to his own individual soundtrack and be judged by fellow competitors on his athletic skill, creativity and technical ability.  The winner will be the athlete who, in the opinion of his peers, delivers the most innovative, fluid, flowing performance.  The night will inspire maximum originality and individuality, but the moves expected to be showcased on the imposing structure will include spectacular sequences of jumps, flips, spins, cat leaps and kong vaults.

Tickets for the Barclaycard World Freerun Championships are available from The Roundhouse, box office number 0844 482 8008, www.roundhouse.org.uk.  For more information check out www.worldfreerun.com and www.urbanfreeflow.com 

Go wild with Outdoorlads

Time to try something new?  OutdoorLads is a great opportunity to experience a world of new activities and fun events. The group is a non-profit making organisation for gay and bi lads, which runs and promotes a wide range of outdoor pursuits for likeminded fellas.  Up and down the country every week, OutdoorLads hosts a range of activities including climbing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, kayaking, walking and even white water rafting! 

It’s very easy to get involved: just log onto OutdoorLads.com, create a profile for free and browse more than fifty events every month.  Events such as day walks are free to attend, while others carry a nominal fee.  Although the core membership is aged between 18 and 35, the group involves a wide mix of ages and backgrounds.  This summer the group has a wide range of weekends away and a huge selection of day events to choose from.  If you want to find out more about the group and your local events then go to OutdoorLads.com to discover the big bright outdoors. 

This is a great time to join the group, as this August the group will host its largest event in the UK.  An idyllic campsite has been booked for the sole use of OutdoorLads: set in a forest on the edge of a reservoir in Staffordshire, there will be activities at all levels - from a leisurely walk to good hard climbing, on-site activities, watersports on the reservoir, mountain biking and much more!  The event kicks off on Friday 15th August and winds down on the Sunday afternoon.  The evenings will feature entertainment, including a disco on the Saturday evening, BBQ, hog roast, snacks, hot and cold drinks - and, of course, a bar.

Gareth Williams, the chairman of OutdoorLads, is very excited about the range of activities available throughout the weekend: “There will be a variety of walks from short ambles, longer flatter walks, and hillier walks for those brave enough - these are a great introduction for a new member or anyone wanting a bit more of a challenge.  This is our largest ever camp so we have added a lot of variety.  There are several mountain bike routes nearby with easier and harder options, just remember to bring your own bike!  We were lucky to find a site neat the Roaches, which is a fantastic location for climbing.  There are suitable routes for beginners and those up for a personal challenge.  We'll be arranging kayaking and some other watersports on the reservoir, and depending on the numbers we will have a number of different on-site activities like team building activities and sporting competitions." 

Go to OutdoorLads for more details. 

Olympic cyclist Michelle Ferris named Gay Games Ambassador

The elite Australian athlete will join an international roster of sports and cultural stars promoting the quadrennial Gay Games.  Michelle Ferris is one of cycling's all-time sprint stars with multiple world and Olympic medals to her credit, and she has now been selected by the Federation of Gay Games as an Ambassador - one of an international group of prominent individuals supporting the Gay Games.  The eighth edition of the quadrennial event takes place in Cologne, Germany from the 31st July to 10th August 2010. 

"I relish the opportunity to be a Gay Games Ambassador," said Ferris, pictured above centre with the gold.  "The Gay Games provide a unique opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender athletes and artists from around the world to come together in celebration.  By highlighting our sporting and cultural achievements under the three Gay Games principles of 'Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best', we have the opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments in a safe and supportive environment." 

Ferris' 20-year cycling career peaked with a series of silver medals in the sprint and 500 metre time trials at the Olympic games in 1996 and 2000 and at the UCI World Cycling Championships from 1997-1999.  She captured her country's heart at Sydney's 2000 Olympics when, after finishing in the runner-up position in the sprint to her perennial rival Felicia Ballanger of France, she said it didn't matter because the most important thing was that she'd set a new personal best. 

Michelle Ferris joins an illustrious roster: the Gay Games Ambassadors represent a broad range of achievement in sports, the arts, business and government.  From the UK, Ambassadors include musician Sir Elton John, world power lifting gold medallist Chris Morgan and former National Basketball Association player Jon Amaechi.  From South Africa, Olympic beach volleyball player Leigh Ann Naidoo.  From Germany, world and Olympic champion cyclists Petra Rössner and Judith Arndt.  From Australia, world champion trampoline gymnast Ji Wallace.  And from the US, tennis legend Billie Jean King, Olympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis, Olympic gold medal swimmer Bruce Hayes, champion figure skater Rudy Galindo, rock star Melissa Etheridge, former US Ambassador James Hormel, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean, former National Football League players David Kopay and Esera Tuaolo, actors Judith Light and Amanda Bearse, and photographer Tom Bianchi. 

Ferris and the other Gay Games Ambassadors will promote the upcoming Gay Games VIII around the world at sporting events and public gatherings in collaboration with the FGG.  Although retired from elite competitions, Ms. Ferris continues participating in Masters cycling events and is looking forward to competing at her first Gay Games in Cologne.   

Click here to sponsor or participate in Gay Games VIII, or go to Federation of Gay Games for more information concerning the sponsors.   

JUSTIN: the campaign against homophobia in football

Bursting on to the scene at Norwich City, Justin Fashanu – at just 20 – became Britain’s first black million pound footballer when he joined Nottingham Forest in 1981.   The move was a disaster: legendary manager Brian Clough was livid that he “kept going to that bloody poofs’ club” and banned him from the team.  Hounded out of football after coming out in 1990 – the first and still only professional player to do so – Justin hanged himself in a London garage in 1998. 

For a decade, the tragic story of Justin Fashanu has been silenced, surfacing only as a grim warning against coming out for any football player struggling with his sexuality.  Justin is a campaign against homophobia in football that focuses on vindicating the memory of Justin Fashanu, the world’s first openly gay professional footballer. 

Justin will be launched on 4th May 2008, two days after the tenth anniversary of Fashanu’s death, at the Amsterdam in Brighton at 5pm after the Stonewall Equality Walk.  Speakers include gay rights activist Peter Tatchell and Justin co-founder Jason Hall.  Brighton Bandits, a fascinating documentary about the city’s gay football team – which the Justin team ultimately want to show at schools and universities – screens at the Odeon in Brighton on 17th May – the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) - in conjunction with artist Jason Hall’s Open House exhibition (and the FA Cup Final). Jason’s exhibition centralises Justin’s story within a powerful collage of words, images and objects recalling the war on homophobia – and those that fell. 

Steelers triumph again

Following their recent first-time triumph over Pegasus Palmerians, the Kings Cross Steelers continued their winning streak with another first-time win against Witham on Saturday 16th February in the Essex town.

Witham, who were promoted with the Steelers last season following a battle between the two for the top of the table, this time failed to match up to the East London boys’ power and skill.

The Steelers comprehensively out-classed the opposition with a try by Deri O’Regan after only three minutes, converted by Peter Thompson.  With O'Regan crossing the line again just two minutes later, the score then stood at 0-12 whilst the match settled down without any further scores for 20 minutes.  The Steelers however stepped up the pressure in the last 15 minutes of the first half and following a successful penalty kick by Thompson, further trys came from Greg Bloom, Thompson  himself and Russell Saunders, celebrating his return to the club after 3 seasons, with a spectacular run from deep in the Steelers 22.

Witham briefly threatened a come-back with a try just four minutes into the second half, but with the Steelers dominating territory they stood little chance, a further try came from Mark Bithell halfway through the second period, before the O'Regan/Thompson partnership ended the game as they began it with a converted try making the final score Witham 5 - Kings Cross Steelers 42.

This result secures the Steelers in 4th position in Essex 2, with just three games remaining.

Future Fixtures

1st March away to Old Cooperians; 29th March at home to Thames; and 12th April away to Loughton

Enjoy the great Outdoors (with lads)

Take a deep breath, in and out - that's right. If you haven't collapsed after that exertion then Outdoor Lads want to hear from you. They are holding 18 day walks across the UK on Saturday 18th March to raise awareness of their group and to encourage new members.

Outdoorlads.com is a not for profit online community of over 5500 gay guys that like to take part in Outdoor Pursuits, this covers everything from hiking and weekends away right through to the more extreme such as caving, kayaking and sky diving. If you fancy going over seas we also run a International Expeditions, this year for example we are off to Croatia, Morocco, Austria and Nepal.

So what are you waiting for!! Grab your walking boots and give it go.

Manhunt key to success for Steelers

Saturday 26th Jan saw the boys from Manhunt cheer on the Kings Cross Steelers to a historic 15-5 win against Pegasus Palmerians, one of their oldest adversaries.

Manhunt, who are principal sponsors of the Steelers, joined the lively crowd of supporters at the club’s home ground in West Ham. Rob Gunns, from Manhunt UK said ‘Manhunt are proud to sponsor a thriving team like the Steelers, and we always enjoy the buzz of at their games and events’.

In the bar after the game, as he presented Rob with a commemorative strip, Steelers Chairman Sean Robertson said, ‘We’re really grateful to Manhunt for their support this season, and their boys on the touchline help make the fantastic atmosphere for which we are famous’.

If you’d like to watch the Steelers play, then look at www.kxsrfc.com for match details, and just turn up; or contact Supporter’s Secretary Ian Wilson on supporters@kxsrfc.com

Photo Caption: Steelers chairman, Sean Robertson, presents a commemorative shirt to Manhunt’s Rob Gunns

Help Michael Win!

We were pleased to hear from Michael Hill recently. We interviewed Michael five years ago just after his motorcycling career had come to an abrupt halt after he decided to come out to his family and friends.

Since then, his motorcycle team, Taboo Motorsport, have been contesting the 125cc British Motorcycling Championships.

TABOO Motorsport will once again be contesting the British 125cc GP Championship this year during the period March to October at prominent circuits throughout the UK. This high profile sporting series will continue to run alongside the increasingly popular British Superbike Championship and will be one of only 3 flagship races awarded full TV coverage at each event.

After becoming a regular top 10 finisher in the 2006 and 2007 series as the team’s only rider, Michael is looking to attract new sponsors to help fund the team (which will expand to include an additional rider in 2008) and his challenge for honours at British and hopefully European championship level.

However his success depends upon enough funding being raised to help develop and maintain the race machine with new factory equipment as it becomes available and to cover other necessary expenses throughout the season.

Media interest continues to grow each year in the sport, all of his 2008 races will be shown on terrestrial and digital channels (ITV and SKY SPORTS). In addition to the millions who watch the events on TV, the race meetings themselves are attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators, offering any sponsors guaranteed exposure.

So if you are interested in support Michael and Taboo Motorsport, then you can email him at supporters@michaelhillracing.com. Also check out the team website at www.taboomotorsport.co.uk

Maximuscle