According to EDGE Boston:
Openly gay Australian diver and Olympic gold medalist Matthew Mitcham will be among thousands of athletes and artists who will converge on Cologne, Germany, later this year for the eighth edition of the Gay Games, scheduled to commence on July 31 and run through Aug. 7.The Games began in 1982 in San Francisco and have taken place every four years since then in cities across the globe, from New York to Amsterdam to Sydney. In 1990, Vancouver--currently hosting the Winter Olympics--was the site of the Gay Games.Mitcham, who took the gold in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics, will not be competing in the Games, but he will appear at various events, a Feb. 14 press release from the Federation of Gay Games announced. "I’m excited to be part of something so important for our communities around the globe," Mitcham said. "This event brings lesbian and gay life out on the court, onto the track, and into the pool."Being ’out’ means for me being just as I am with nothing to be ashamed about and no reasons to hide," the gold medalist continued. "Participating at the Gay Games is a great chance for all gays and lesbians to show that we as a community are not like the stereotypes the straight media loves to portray." Added Mitcham, "I will take time off from training and travel to Cologne, since I strongly feel we have to celebrate our own values and help others to accept that it is ok to be different." Mitcham plans to document the trip on his Facebook page, the release noted.
Federation of Gay Games co-presidents issued a statement celebrating Mitcham’s planned participation. "Matthew, one of the most recognized openly gay sports persons of our time, is a fantastic role model, especially for younger people," the statement read. "Matt is only 20 years old. He is focused and successful in his sport and doesn’t have to hide being gay. This is something that Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell would have been so proud of. After almost 30 years, the Gay Games continues to make lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender life visible through sports and culture, thus allowing new generations to be accepted just as they are."
The 2014 edition of the Gay Games is slated to take place in Cleveland, Ohio.
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