[exhibeKed]

If they ever have the games in Denver and you compete I'm your huckleberry

[qd0vhq4f]

The past games are as follows:

The Gay Games are held every four years and are held in the bidding city that wins the complex and exhaustive site selection process.

• Gay Games I, Challenge ‘82, was held in San Francisco, California USA
• Gay Games II, Triumph ‘86, was also held in San Francisco, California USA
• Gay Games III, Celebration ‘90, was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canaada
• Gay Games IV, Unity ’94, was held in New York, New York USA
• Gay Games V, Friendship ’98, was held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Gay Games VI, Under New Skies, was held in 2002 in Sydney, New South Wales Australia
• Gay Games VII, Where the World Meets, was held in Chicago, Illinois USA in 2006
• Gay Games VIII, Be Part of It, was held in Cologne, Germany in 2010
• Gay Games IX will be held in Cleveland-Akron, Ohio USA in 2014


For more info on the history go to www.gaygames.com

[newpiknicker]

We can carpool and save money on gas..

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That would be fun, I don tthink the wife would approve another golf trip though

[lerobudrse]

That would be fun, I don tthink the wife would approve another golf trip though

Its not just a golf trip, you need to spin it that you are doing your part for a humanitarian cause!

[amimabremiBit]

Thanks WCBM, I'll do my best

I'm sorry I didn't see this before. I'll support you in any way I can

[qd0vhq4f]

I just put it up today darlin'. You didn't miss anything

[lerobudrse]

If you get more info please post. This would be something I would take part in. I really can't speak up and say where I will be in 2014 but I would def be interested.

[ultramDoctoo]

this sounds like it would be a blast! wish I could make it.

We can carpool and save money on gas..

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[JaK_MarkoV_Pi]

I apologize if that offended you. I'm the type of person that thinks everything is funny, including stereotypes. As long as there is no malice involved, everything is fair game to poke fun of in my book. To me it's no different than people kidding Chunky about being vertically challenged or Cookie having an awkward swing.

Who you calling short?!

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[amimabremiBit]

Awesome thread Spazz. I love this idea. Please keep us informed!

[qd0vhq4f]

It's early, I know... I just posted this up on my Facebook and thought I'd toss it out here.

Golf has become a passion... My improvement is slow, but there, much to my delight. My dreamy thoughts turn to 2014 Gay Games 9 (see Gay Games FB page for info). I competed in '90 (Vancouver) and '94 (NYC) both times in Track & Field. The old bones can't do that anymore, but the Games in 2014 (Cleveland) will include golf (Stableford rules). Now, I just need a team. For those "straight but gay-friendly" golfers, the Games are inclusive and a hell of a lot of fun! Any THP brothers want to help me represent?

All sport events are sanctioned by the associated governing body. There are no "trials". You pay your entry fee and you play, regardless of skill. Not sure about golf, but in the other sports in the past, division was by age group. I'll post more info as I get it.

[qd0vhq4f]

Yeah, lots of folks LOL at it at first... Heck, I did back in the day before I actually entered. Then in mid '89, living in NYC many in my run club were talking about it, then I heard it from other sports. I'd already been road running for a while, so started training for Track events (5K & 10K). I entered, made my travel plans for Vancouver.

At the Opening Ceremonies (yep, just like the Olympics) it really hit me how big this was. The majority of the city of Vancouver came and filled the stadium. It was pretty overwhelming, in a good way.

Throughout the week, traveling to venues, we'd run into families clutching event programs, always asking how we were doing in our events. Traded team pins with these adorable little old ladies who were on their way to watch wrestling and bubbling about the upcoming body building completion they'd scored tickets to.

It was and is one of the best weeks in sport I've ever had... And no, I didn't medal. I instead was hit by a flying body on the track in the 5K which dislocated my knee. I knocked it back in, wore a bag of ice for 2 days and ran my 10K (slowly).

I'll write about NYC in '94 later... Gotta go for now..

[amimabremiBit]

I just put it up today darlin'. You didn't miss anything

Good!! I think that is an amazing goal. I'm so impressed that you are setting your sights like that.

[artkolkovk]

I think David Kelly called you out with the Midget putter on his knees. IN THE HOLE

I turned on the PGA Championship coverage today and though I was Chunky hitting driver on the range.... but it turned out to be Web Simpson hitting them from his knees. Thought he looked to tall to be Chunky.

[qd0vhq4f]

OK, to continue with my personal Gay Games experience... As I mentioned above, 1990 Vancouver was my first foray into the games, and, from start to finish it was amazing.

For those of you who love sport and no matter what your skill level, would watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies and think "I wonder what that feels like" or " I want to experience that", the Gay Games in Vancouver gave me that gift. A sold out stadium, teams from everywhere in the world, a city welcoming all the participants with open arms... It was pretty damned cool.

When I got home to NYC, the ramp up for 1994 was already beginning. In early '91 I signed on to help out, becoming the coordinator for Track & Field. Over the next 1.5 years, I immersed myself in rule books, for both able-bodied and handicapped competitors, created the event schedule which had to not only include heats but divisions by age groups of every event. I got all the sanctioning paperwork ready for filing. It was a huge undertaking. At 1 year out, knowing I wanted to compete, I turned everything over to an ex-Olympian who had experience actually running an international track meet... And I began training in earnest.
=======
Historically, this happened:

1994

Gay Games IV is held in New York City. The event attracts more than 11,000 participants in 31 events, making it the largest athletic competition in history. In a waiver of U.S. policy, Attorney General Janet Reno allows HIV-positive individuals from outside the United States to enter the country, without special permits, to attend the Games.

Greg Louganis, four-time Olympic gold medalist in diving who becomes HIV-positive, comes out in public at the Gay Games.

Missy Giove, an openly lesbian mountain biker, wins her first world title. Considered the Michael Jordan of her sport, she subsequently wins back-to-back world titles in 1996 and '97.
========
For me, I ran the 100m & 200m... I did not medal. My age group was full of ex-USC and UCB track gals Damn! They were fast... But they were so nice Before the race, I was practicing my turns for the 200 and some of the USC gals came over and coached me, teaching me when and where to "slingshot", then as we lined up one of them said about another "no ones ever beat her off the turn - you may not win, but you get her on the turn, it'll mess with her mind". I did... It was great! She smoked me afterwards, but it was the fastest 200 I'd ever run.

Life kind of got in the way after the '94 Games. So now, with a new sport and a wonderful online community that has supported and helped teach me this crazy game of golf, my thoughts turn to the possibilities for 2016.

I am hopeful that "my team" will be made of of THP folks, gay and straight. But that is something that only time will tell.

[qd0vhq4f]

Well, it is 2 yrs out...

[qd0vhq4f]

I apologize if that offended you. I'm the type of person that thinks everything is funny, including stereotypes. As long as there is no malice involved, everything is fair game to poke fun of in my book. To me it's no different than people kidding Chunky about being vertically challenged or Cookie having an awkward swing.

Not offended... Just a reminder that no matter ones skill level, a personal best is still a personal best.

[tobaccoman]

I have to admit, I lol'ed when I saw the Gay Games title, but it sounds like a great event! If I were in the area, I would definitely be part of it, but I'm stuck down here.

[qd0vhq4f]

Thanks WCBM, I'll do my best

[exhibeKed]

It's an international event, lasts about 10 days, multiple sports. Not sure of golf dates yet.

If memory serves, in '94 NYC, there were over 3500 athletes from more than 100 countries. Current and former Olympians came and either competed or gave exhibitions.

The Games have grown over the years and goes to a different place very 4 years, 2010 was in Cologne Germany, and before that Sydney Australia.

Wish they would come to Denver. My daughter is gay and it would be a great bargaining chip to get her to play more often with me to "Practice"