Glory without bloodshed

In times when knighthoods are harder to come by than mindless acts of generosity, ancient acts of chivalry, or service at a supermarket, it has been wonderful to fight it out on the sports field in the largest GLBTQ sporting event in Australia since the Sydney Gay Games in 2002. Melbourne kindly turned on the best weather, superb venues, a transport system that works – the special cultural blend for which it is renowned – in hosting the Outgames. Sydney teams and clubs played with their neighbours, and returned home physically exhausted, emotionally drained, laden with medals and perhaps just a little partied out.

The spoils of the battle were obviously worth the expense, stress and training. The euphoric state of physical exhaustion – knowing one had played hard and fair – is akin to no other on earth.

The Team Sydney Sports Festival provides competitive and participation events for every age, gender (and gender blend), fitness and skill level. In the course of the coming three weeks one could enjoy Carnival-esque with the Sydney Snakes Netball Club, beat the skin off a ball with a Bentstix during their annual hockey championships, or dust off that little black frock for the Frontrunners charity event – the Little Black Dress Run.

Whilst Freezoners will madly spike, set and serve their way through their annual Mardi Gras tournament at Homebush, those with a bent crank or twisted spoke will be cycling gaily forward with the Sydney Spokes cycle tour.

It could be that your knees or back are not up to the physicality of netball, volleyball or little black dresses. However, there are battles to be fought in the lanes at Manhattan Superbowl with the Sydney Rams Tenpin Bowling Club. Those who are more elegant may sweep aside the opposition with precision, poise, passion and posture at the Dancesports event on 23 February at the Botany RSL.

Sydney Frontrunners like to warm up prior to the Mardi Gras parade. You can join them for a friendly run/walk on 1 March with some of the visitors expected from around the globe. If this is all a bit docile for you, then you are of course hanging out for your turn at kung fu with Gay and Lesbian Martial Arts in Erskineville. For those looking for a good pull, the Team Sydney Tug of War challenge has your name all over it.

Don’t be shy about joining in – get the details missing from the above list at our site first: www.teamsydney.org.au. There is a great bunch of friendly sports people who want to include you in their sports challenges.