One Games initiative will not affect Auckland Outgames
THE next Asia Pacific Outgames to be held in Auckland in 2016 will not be affected by the One Games initiative to lobby for a unified LGBTI sporting event according to the movement’s founders.
New Zealand’s largest city was named as the event’s host earlier this month, and is set to coincide with the city’s annual Pride Festival in February 2016.
The founders of One Games Team Melbourne told the Star Observer that although the Auckland event was not anticipated when the initiative was launched, it will have the organisation’s full support.
Retaining regional LGBTI sporting events like the Asia Pacific Outgames is a key part of the One Games initiative launched by Team Melbourne earlier this year to lobby for a unified event after the World Outgames split from the Gay Games in 2006.
The initiative will see participating LGBTI sporting organisations boycott bids for any divided event held after 2018, and not endorse athlete participation in those events.
Team Melbourne has argued regional events were particularly important for teams from the southern hemisphere, where travelling to international games often held in Europe and North America can be an unreasonable expense.
The One Games initiative has begun attracting international support, with the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation signing on last month.
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