To the FGG: What in hell are you thinking? The reason you gave us the games in the first place was because we had the most attractive bid. For Chrissakes, the three levels of government were going to put millions into this thing. Do you think that the government of fricking Georgia is going to give you that much?
It was going to be the biggest and best one ever. Yes, it was going to cost a lot of money. Instead of dickering about it, why didn’t you put your back into attracting more participants than ever? You could have done it, too. What is wrong with you?
To Montréal 2006: Câlice, people, you could have compromised a little instead of this loopy plan to go it alone. Do you really think the government is going to still be subsidizing you without the Gay Games name on it?
It was going to be the coolest thing to ever come to the Village. It was going to revive the Queer community in this city and put Montreal even more firmly on the map than it already is. You could have done it, too. What is wrong with you?
Well, even if you’d have gotten the Gay Games, it may have been at a considerable cost. The 1998 Amsterdam Gay Games were quite the financial disaster.
Now, I know matt and I have spoken about this before, and there’s no need to rehash it all, but I don’t really see the point in Gay Games. I mean, you either organise Olympic Games, where athletes of all sexual orientations can participate, or you organise a gay pride event - both are fine by me. I just don’t understand the combination.
And of course, the organisation of the Gay Games don’t have to care one wit about my opinion, provided they make sure their budgets are tight, and they don’t end up holding up their hand for my tax money when they end up short. That attitude doesn’t go for gay events alone, you’ll understand: I don’t want to pay for any event I had no democratic say in. Sure, regular olympics get subsidies too. But they also net a shitload of money, bringing thousands of visitors in (although in fairness, our last olympics were in 1928 :)).
The same could not be said for the Gay Games. While the atmosphere in the city was great, it still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth that 5 million guilders had to be paid by the city of Amsterdam to make it all work.
So, I’d say the FGG has good reason to question the size of the Montréal Gay Games. History has proven them right: if you think too big, you’ll end up losing money.
On a brighter note, I’m pleased to hear that Montréal had allowed for the inclusion of “fucking rooms” in their plan.
I second Matt’s “Huh?” What’s not work friendly about it? I’m disappointed, too, Matt. I was planning to schedule my first trip to Canada for the games.
Well, like I said, there’s no need for either one of us to convince the other. As long as the event is held without my financial backing, it’s all A-OK, and they can do whatever I want. But in that light, I do understand the FGG’s concerns regaring the Montréal Games.
May I ask a totally ignorant question without being flamed?
Why do gays need their own sporting events?
My mind is zinging with so many questions, none coherent, I’ll stick to one and then hang up the phone to listen to the response.
I think it’s important that gay people have their own events so they will leave those poorhalf-naked, very oily Turks alone:
Please note that I am kidding. Otherwise I would be the world’s greatest hypocrite for watching women’s tennis. Now, where the hell are my leather trousers?
Well of course the founders of the Gay Games did try to organize an “Olympic” games, but the United States Olympic Committee sued them for using the word “Olympics.” While the USOC was busily putting liens on the house of a terminally ill man to prevent the queers from sullying the word “Olympics,” they were silent on such usage at the Chili Olympics, the Police Olympics and the Rat Olympics. Since they prevailed in their lawsuit, the “Gay Olympics” became the “Gay Games.”
But that wasn’t exactly your point I suppose…
No one is excluded from participating in the Gay Games on the basis of sexual orientation. Openly straight athletes are welcome to participate. As for why organize a sporting event for gay people, I’d answer that by referring you to the following list of openly gay athletes currently playing professional team sports in the United States:
Until such time as there is a list, even a non-sports guy like me understands the desire of openly gay athletes for the chance to participate as openly gay athletes.
CBC radio’s sports show. The Inside Track, did a report on gays in sport and recieved a buttload of hate mail. Even in the recording of the show, their principle interviewee did so only on condition that his identity not be revealed. I am also 90% certain that they even disguised his voice.
Sports, especially at higher levels of skill, are seen as bastions of masculinity. Homosexuality is seen as a threat to masculinity. It doesn’t take a nuclear physicist, people.
Unless, of course, you’re straight and get to huddle in the safety of your hetero privilege
And further, what’s the point of having them if you don’t have to be straight to participate in the regular Olympics? Seems like a big waste of time (and tax money, as usual), to me.
Yeah. I notice nobody ever asks, “Why do French-speaking people, or people from Commonwealth countries, need their own Olympics?”
There are plenty of great stories about good things that have happened at Gay Games, like these four women from Vanuatu - essentially the extent of the Queer community there - who came to participate. They couldn’t possibly be out in their home country but for a while were able to enjoy the company of thousands of their peers.
