Earlier this year, I promised that I would give regular updates on Cleveland’s bid to host Gay Games IX. Latest news is that we are preparing to host a visit from delegates of the Federation of Gay Games here in Cleveland in late July. We have some exciting events planned, so I will be sure to share photos here.
Now that I have immersed myself in everything related to LGBT sports, I wanted to share a bit more detail on a news item we tweeted for you earlier this month. As we all know, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games are just months away, and Vancouver will serve as the destination for this global showcase of athleticism. Anyone who has watched either the Summer or Winter Olympics knows about the “Olympic Village,” where each country has some sort of venue to showcase not only their culture, but to provide a haven for its athletes. This winter, for the first time in Olympic history, there will be “Pride House,” a place for LGBT athletes to relax, watch events and meet friends. The organizer, GayWhistler, designed Pride House as a safe space for out athletes, coaches, fans and allies to come and essentially be themselves.
As Dean Nelson of GayWhistler put it, the Olympics have a “pretty homophobic structure where being out is not really encouraged." he said. "We're hoping we can be a catalyst and change that perception.”
This is big news in the Olympic community. As Olympic historian Kevin Wamsley commented in the story, the Olympics have traditionally skirted around the issue of sexuality, and have not provided a friendly environment for LGBT athletes in the past. And, at this point, neither the Vancouver Organizing Committee nor the International Olympics Committee are partners in this effort.
I applaud…nay, give a standing ovation… to GayWhistler for creating Pride House. The Olympics bring the world together, and that includes the LGBT community. With so many media outlets expected to descend upon Vancouver, I hope that there will be an opportunity to generate great interest in the LGBT Olympic Athlete and for sponsors and companies to market to the LGBT community. More important, I hope the IOC recognizes and embraces the importance of the LGBT community. Olympic athletes are role models. Let them be Out Role Models.
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Greetings from Whistler, Canada! We are so thrilled to be able to create the first PRIDE House at the Olympics! If you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see at the pavilion please feel free to send an email to pridehouse@gaywhistler.com
http://www.gaywhistler.com
Cheers,
Dean