Come dine with sporting heroes
Team Sydney has always supported its 34 member clubs, and now the umbrella sporting organisation wants them to return the favour by attending the Federation of Gay Games 2011 New Ambassador Launch Dinner.
The FGG will welcome its two newest ambassadors at a lavish gala dinner at the Hyde Park Marriott Hotel on September 1, to be presented in partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association (SGLBA) and Team Sydney and sponsored by Proteus Leadership Centres.
The two new ambassadors are Matthew Mitcham, the openly gay Australian Olympic diver who shot to fame by winning a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, and Blake Skjellerup, the Winter Olympic speed skater from New Zealand.
The evening will be MC’ed by Dr Kerryn Phelps, and Olympic cyclist and fellow FGG ambassador Michelle Ferris will also be in attendance to welcome the new ambassadors.
Skjellerup will arrive fresh from his role as a keynote speaker at the 2nd GLISA North America Outgames in Vancouver in late July. His dual Outgames/Gay Games roles may be a sign of future unity between the traditionally fractious organisations.
“Everyone knows Matthew and Michelle have experienced the Gay Games, but Blake hasn’t yet. It’s a nice chance to show him what a wonderful experience it will be in Cleveland in 2014,” Team Sydney President Geoffrey Radford told the Star Observer.
“314 Team Sydney members went to the Cologne Gay Games, so come and relive some of your experiences with fellow athletes and talk to Matt and Michelle, who lead Team Sydney in the Opening Parade with the new Team Sydney/SGLBA banner.”
SGLBA have been associated with Team Sydney for two years, and last year cemented their partnership when SGLBA came on board as the principal sponsor of Team Sydney’s Cologne Gay Games trip.
Mitcham so enjoyed his experience in Cologne that he has agreed to become a FGG ambassador. He will give a speech on the night entitled ‘Winning Gold – Achieving Goals: What it takes to succeed’, while Ferris will also talk about her experiences in Cologne.
INFO: Tickets to FGG’s 2011 New Ambassador Launch Dinner are limited and bookings are essential. Tickets are $70 for Team Sydney and SGLBA members, $80 for non-members. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/FGG or email [email protected]
