On your marks, get snapping.

The first ever gay and lesbian sporting photography competition will be launched at this year’s Sports Day Out in a bid to develop an extensive range of stock photos to be used by Team Sydney.

Open to all, the competition will have various sections allowing everyone, from the lowliest happy snapping spectator to the professional photographer, a shot at the eventual prize.

Team Sydney spokesman Wally Salinger says it is hoped that the competition will help establish a pool of images which will be accessible to the various Team Sydney clubs.

Often teams or clubs require sporting images at very short notice to promote an event, media story or to produce advertising material for functions or competitions, but not-for-profit clubs aren’t usually financially able to hire photographers or purchase images so we’re hoping this will draw in work from some of our community’s highly talented and artistic people who can capture some visually stimulating sporting images and moments.

It is also hoped that the competition will further encourage people to head along to GLBT sporting events as spectators and photographers.

We want to encourage visual record-keeping of club events, successes and team members, from bearers to coaches and all the support staff, Wally said, before also highlighting the ability of such a competition to further promote the idea of sporting participation and healthy lifestyles to the wider community.

Entry to the competition will open at Sports Day Out and submissions will be taken until January 20 for digital images and January 31 for hard copy works.

There are four major categories: best media photo, best sports photo, best media award for sports articles and the best sports art award for any type of artwork that has been inspired by sport.

The works will be judged by a yet-to-be-decided panel before the best 50 are chosen for exhibition at Iku gallery in Paddington during next year’s Mardi Gras Festival.

info: Registration forms for the competition will be available at Sports Day Out, October 12, Sydney Boys High School, or through the Team Sydney web site www.teamsydney.org.au.