Gay Games 9, August 2014

[MarcN]

http://gg9cle.com

Bodybuilding on the program, and recently confirmed that powerlifting will be on as planned.

Great competitions for beginners or experienced competitors, and of course for spectators!

Some specifics for the Gay Games:
-- mixed and same-sex pairs
-- tested and untested divisions
-- weight categories based on number of competitors, no arbitrary pre-set cutoffs

[CelticMuscle]

Originally Posted by MarcN

http://gg9cle.com

Bodybuilding on the program, and recently confirmed that powerlifting will be on as planned.

Great competitions for beginners or experienced competitors, and of course for spectators!

Some specifics for the Gay Games:
-- mixed and same-sex pairs
-- tested and untested divisions
-- weight categories based on number of competitors, no arbitrary pre-set cutoffs

And (with luck) a friend of mine from Palm Springs who is well into his 70's is giving serious thought about entering the pairs division representing the United States.

[Mdlftr]

The Gay Games were conceived in 1980 by Dr. Tom Waddell as a "vehicle of change."

For over a quarter century, the Gay Games have built an international legacy of changing cultural, social and political attitudes towards LGBT people across the globe, while at the same time empowering tens of thousands with the transforming benefits of sports competition.

In 1981, gay athletes were a hidden and marginalized community within the greater marginalized and beleaguered LGBT community. Being gay and being an athlete was an either-or proposition: Be a jock or be a queer. All of that changed when the athletes marched into Kezar Stadium in 1982.

"We need to discover more about the process of our sexual liberation and apply it meaningfuIIy to other forms of liberation," Waddell wrote. "The Gay Games are not separatist, they are not exclusive, they are not oriented to victory, and they are not for commercial gain. They are, however, intended to bring a global community together in friendship, to experience participation, to elevate consciousness and self-esteem, and to achieve a form of cultural and intellectual synergy.... We are involved in the process of altering opinions whose foundations lie in ignorance. We have the opportunity to take the initiative on critical issues that affect the quality of life and we can serve in a way that makes all people the beneficiary." Waddell wanted to bring gays and lesbians together in an unprecedented effort, and he wanted "to dispel the prevailing attitudes in sport regarding ageism, sexism and racism." Thirty years later, perhaps the best measurement of the Gay Games Movement is the legacy of change it has produced.
http://www.gg9cle.com/gay-games/history/

[SWMassMan]

I'm the coordinator for the powerlifting event this year in Cleveland. If you are interested in competing or have any questions let me know at [email protected]

--John

[CelticMuscle]

closely followed by the Paralympics and the Commonwealth Games (and seeing there is a lot of interest) may I apply to be the official medal tallier of these Games for this board (in the following format):

Date of event, Sport, Name of event, Gold, Silver, Bronze

(on a daily basis) with an updated medals table posted at the same time?