Why a Gay Games? Well there are some games/sports that gays are more attracted to (nature or nurture – I’m not saying) which are not part of the Olympics (or are under consideration), namely,
Aerobics
Bowling
Dancing (same sex pairs)
Figure Skating (same sex pairs)
Golf
Physique
Squash
Touch Rugby
Not to mention that there are some games which get ‘second tier’ coverage at the Olympics but are top draws among gays:
Wrestling
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Softball
Not to mention that gays can be ‘out’ and play safely in the team sports (Ice Hockey, Basketball, Soccer) without worrying about being bashed for being gay.
And, not to mention opening and closing ceremonies which are stunning and fabulous.
Peace.
I’m sorry to hear about Montreal, matt. I have a CD of Kate Clinton talking about what a wonderful experience the Toronto games were, and its a shame that you’ll miss out.
That’s because they don’t call it the French-speaking Games, or the Commonwealth Games.
Don’t take it personally. The questions would be exactly the same in those circumstances. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see you on the front lines complaining about the tax drain that these events usually have on the national economy were those other events to take place.
I think your objectivity is clouded by the fact that you wanted this to happen because it was in your self-interest to see it happen. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. But nonetheless, these big one-time events usually don’t pan out financially.
<cough> They do call it the Commonwealth Games <cough>
But people in Commonwealth countries (deffinately in UK) do question why a Commonwealth games is needed.
Still I can’t imagine a heterosexual Games being considered a reasonable idea by many people, even if there was no actual restriction against non-heterosexual competitors.
Do the Gay Games have non olympic event?
Maybe we could have a SMDB Games, the 100 yards crawl, nipple clamp tug-of-war, lube wrestling. Might even make a proffit on pay per view.
A clothing optional Olympics would be another idea…
Why have a Gay Games? Well, why not? The only legitimate objection* I can anticipate is that it may be a financial drain to the host city – and hence to taxpayers.
Let’s think about that for a moment. Does any city or country offer to host an international sporting event unless they anticipate a positive economic impact flowing from said event?
Of course not. And if a city expects a positive financial out-turn from a sporting event, why should you object to them forming an arrangement with the organisers of the Gay Games?
If the parties stuff up and the Games turn out to be a cost to the taxpayer rather than a financial boon, your question should NOT be:
Why do we have a Games especially for gays and lesbians?
Rather, it SHOULD be:
Why did we make the financially foolish arrangement to host these Games (which happen to be for gays and lesbians)?
On that note, does anyone care to look up the financial out-turn of the Sydney Gay Games? Should we necessarily be assuming that the Games come at a cost to putative host cities?
I don’t know much about the Gay Games, but all I have to add is that Montreal is my current favo(u)rite city in North America, and I look forward to being there again in 2 weeks.
So if that’s the official name, and you choose to call it the Gay Games even though that’s not the official name, why the comment about how people only object to it because it’s called the “Gay Games”? Your own cite says that the last four lost money. If someone told me that, I wouldn’t care if it were the Porn Star Masturbation Games, I wouldn’t support it. It has nothing to do with the title, which in your cite mentioned nothing about the real name of the Games.
So your objection, which I commented upon, is moot.
Umm… Airman, I say this with the greatest respect, but that is EXACTLY what they are called! The Commonwealth Games and the Jeux Francophonie (trans: French-speaking Games) are pretty common and not deeply questioned.
Um, what does the OP have to do with it? I didn’t mention either the Commonwealth Games or the Jeux de la Francophonie until much further down the page.
Forgive me if I’m totally off-base here, but it looks like I need to clarify: I said I didn’t understand why it is that when the Gay Games are being discussed, they say “Why do gay people need games?” when they don’t say “Why do French speakers need games?” when the Jeux are being discussed, or “Why do Commonwealth people need games?” when the Commonwealth Games are being discussed.
I don’t really care if someone wants to have gay games. I’d like to know what’s so attractive about having the gay games come to a city and so terrible about having the olympics come? If I had to take a guess I’d say the gay games wouldn’t be as much of a drain on the pocket books of the city.
