SSO signs Gay Games sponsorship

Sydney Star Observer’s parent company, SSO Media, has signed a sponsorship agreement with the 2010 Cologne Gay Games.

The deal, which also include the company’s Melbourne publication, Southern Star, will strengthen Australia’s representation at the global event.

We are so grateful to have the support of Sydney Star Observer and Southern Star for the 2010 Gay Games, Games Cologne CEO Annette Wachter said.

Visibility is such a key part of getting people to participate and having top media outlets like SSO Media as our partners helps us in Australia and around the globe.

Anyone who was in Sydney for the 2002 Gay Games already knows how hopeful and excited we are becoming here in Cologne. Only seven cities and five countries have hosted the Gay Games and we are honoured that our brothers and sisters in Australia are supporting us over the next year as we finish the hard work to get our city and community ready to welcome you.

SSO Media publisher Scott Abrahams said the deal further enhanced the company’s desire to show the depth and breadth of the gay and lesbian community.

Part of the paper’s role is to break down commonly perceived stereotypes, and showing the community’s sporting prowess is one way of doing this, he said. We were the first gay and lesbian publisher to deliver a sport section to our readers every issue, a move that has earned us praise from around the globe.

Our partnership with the Cologne Games will further cement our resolve to show the true diverse nature of the gay and lesbian community.

Federation of Gay Games co-president Kurt Dahl said he was looking forward to seeing hundreds marching into RheinEnergieStadion under the Australian flag next year.

Australians have been part of the Gay Games movement almost since its founding, hosted the Gay Games in 2002, and have long held leadership roles in the FGG, Dahl said.

Two Australian Gay Games ambassadors, Michelle Ferris and Ji Wallace, and the inspiring support of Olympian Matthew Mitcham have extended that legacy.

Having Sydney Star Observer and Southern Star aboard as sponsors underscores this special connection to the Gay Games movement.

Abrahams encouraged Australia’s gay and lesbian athletes to register for the Games now to ensure a strong showing.

At every Gay Games to date Australia has been one of the mostt successful competitors, he said. Cologne will be no different, so I encourage you all to enter now.

info: For more information about the games and registration visit games-cologne.de/en