Gay Games happy with registration

In a good sign of things to come, registrations for the 2010 Cologne Gay Games have passed 1700.
The eighth quadrennial Gay Games will be held from July 31 to August 7, 2010 in Germany’s fourth largest city and organisers are calling on anyone keen to participate to register now.
Competitors have signed up from over 30 countries including the US, the Netherlands, Eastern European nations and Germany itself.
Games Cologne chief executive officer Annette Wachter registrations in the last few months have been due to recent queer-friendly sports events fostering interest.
“Summer LGBT sports programs in North America and Europe have helped drive registrations from the USA, Canada and Europe,” she said.
“The approach of summer has also increased registrations from Australia and South Africa. We are on target to have participation levels of 8000 to 10,000.”
Numbers have fluctuated over the years with organisers claiming the Chicago Games in 2006 attracted 11,700 participants, Sydney (2002) 11,000 participants and Amsterdam (1998) 13,000 participants.
The first event, in San Francisco in 1982, saw 1350 people participate.
For those wanting to compete, a range of sports is on offer, including swimming, diving, cycling, softball, squash, track and field, triathlon and volleyball.
Golf and sailing events are nearly full, so people wanting to register for those sports are urged to do so soon.
Up to 48,000 people are expected for the opening ceremony. Although entertainment hasn’t yet been announced, expectations are high — past Gay Games performers include Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper and Kylie Minogue.
Australian Olympic medallists diver Matthew Mitcham and cyclist Michelle Ferris have pledged their support for the Games.
info: To register visit www.gaygames.com