Gay Games running ahead

The Winter Olympics is not the only world sporting event this year; just as Vancouver extinguishes its flame, the eighth quadrennial Gay Games, in Cologne, Germany, is poised to set the gay sporting world alight.

Of the 35 sports on offer, running is one of the most popular. Those who can contemplate running a half-marathon — or a full one — will be pleased to know organisers are pulling out all stops to make the road race one of the best yet.

Games organisers have joined forces with local multi-sports club TuS Köln rrh and will use the club’s experience and expertise to make the race route a sightseeing journey through Cologne.

The race on August 7 will pass some of the city’s historic buildings.

Gay Games Cologne co-president Annette Wachter said she believes the running event will be a big success.

“With TuS Köln rrh, we found a wonderful partner who is more than able to execute such an event on a stunning race course,” she said.

A host of volunteers will help make the course possible and around 2500 runners are expected to take part.

For Australian athletes thinking of heading over, registrations for Gay Games events are still open.

The Cologne Games will be held from July 31 – August 7 with 35 sports competitions and five cultural events.

Games organisers recently announced registrations so far have exceeded expectations, with around 5000 registered participants.

Around 34,000 visitors will join in celebrations at the opening ceremony on July 31.

The first Gay Games was held in San Francisco in 1982. The Games is a sporting and cultural event based on the ideas of participation, integration and the achievement of personal records.

The Games aims to fight anti-GLBTI discrimination across the globe and includes participants from countries where homosexuality is still fiercely rejected.

info: You can register online at
www.gaygamescologne.com