1st Annual Sports Day and Night – May 11th!
Why the Gay Games?
“There is nothing special about sport for gays and lesbians, so why single them out with a Gay Games?”
As equality and the movement for universal rights continue their march we are reaching a point in society where some feel that groups such as gays do not need a separate games of their own, as to do so is to self discriminate or to segregate oneself from society at large, creating an exclusive event. The linked article deals with some of these points and some of the questions that are often raised not only in wider society but from within the gay community as well. As London bids to host the Gay Games in 2018 this question will almost certainly gain profile and Out for Sport wants to ensure, as London’s representative body within the Federation of Gay Games, that we play an active role in this debate.
Click to read the views of the Federation on this sometimes controversial question – http://gaygames.org/wp/mission-and-values/frequently-asked-questions/faqs-on-the-gay-games-and-lgbt-sport/
Let’s Bring the Gay Games to London
A message from the bid:
With London 2012ʼs big summer of sport beginning to fade into afterglow, itʼs time to look to the future. How could we match the thrill and excitement of having the Olympics in our home town? Three words – The Gay Games.
Open to all, the Gay Games is one of the largest sporting events in the world and London is bidding to host the 2018 Gay Games. Between now and the end of 2013, five potential host cities (with Amsterdam, Limerick, Orlando and Paris in the running alongside London) will bid to host the 2018 Gay Games.
A dedicated team of volunteers (drawn from Londonʼs LGBT sports clubs) have come together to lead the bid process for London. Londonʼs LGBT sports clubs have a long history of collaboration and community leadership, and this is providing a really strong foundation for the bid to bring the 2018 Gay Games to London.
There are two initial key areas of focus – building grassroots support and momentum for Londonʼs bid; and fundraising to cover the costs associated with the bid process (estimated to be about £13,000).
Londonʼs LGBT sports clubs have kickstarted the fundraising process by providing the initial funds required but more support is needed – whether that support is from individuals, businesses or community groups.
We call this fundraising campaign 100Out.
Hereʼs two easy things that you can do to help bring the Gay Games to London in 2018:
1. Follow the 100Out campaign on Twitter
2. Donate £100 via the 100Out Website
1. Follow the 100Out campaign on Twitter
2. Donate £100 via the 100Out Website
Everyone can get involved in the Gay Games bid, whether your skills are in communication, fundraising or helping plan the delivery of your sport, sign up today and get involved.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who plucked up the courage to try a new sport during Out For Sport Week 2012.
I hope you all had a great time – and that you’ll join the clubs for another training session this week.
Thank you also to London’s LGBT sports clubs and their members for being such great hosts.
Please continue to come back to outforsport.com for further updates and check out our outforsport facebook page
Out For Sport Week is Here!
Out For Sport Week: Monday 13th to Sun 19th August
London’s LGBT Sports Clubs invite you to try a new sport!
18 of London’s LGBT sports clubs have got together to organise a week of ‘Sports Taster Sessions’ for London’s LGBT community to try out new sports. We want to showcase London’s vibrant and inclusive LGBT sports community, and show that we have something to offer everyone, regardless of age or ability.
It’s not just about taking part in sport though, there is a social element too!
Tuesday 14 August 2012
20:00 – Sailing Social – The Phoenix Artist Club, WC2H 8BU
Wednesday 15 August 2012
18:30 – 20:30 – Women’s Football with Hackney Women’s FC, Finsbury Park (Manor House Gate)
18:00 – 20:00 – Men’s/ Mixed Football with Leftfooters FC, Regent’s Park (North East corner, by Gloucester Gate)
20:30 – Out For Sport’s Women’s Social – Oak Bar, 79 Green Lanes, London, N16 9BU
Thursday 16 August 2012
18:45 – 21:00 – Women’s Basketball with London Cruisers, Bethnal Green Academy, Gosset Street, London, E2 6NW
19:00 – 21:00 – Women’s Volleyball with Dynamo Dykes – Hyde Park (Marble Arch tube)
Friday 17 August 2012
19:00 – 21:00 – Men’s Basketball with London Cruisers, Britannia Leisure Centre, 40 Hyde Road, Hackney, N1 5JU
19:45 – 21:00 – Water Polo – London Orca, Porchester Baths, Queensway, W2 5HS. Please register in advance on http://www.outtoswim.org, click on “Water Polo” page, then click on “contact us”. We will respond to confirm your attendance.
Saturday 18 August 2012
09:45 – 11:00 – Running with London’s Frontrunners in Hyde Park. Meet at Sport & Leisure, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG. Please click on the link to register to run by 10am on the day before the run http://www.londonfrontrunners.org/index.php/contact-us/saturday-access
12:00 – 13:30 – Kickboxing with KB Kickboxing, Piccadilly. Please register in advance: dalia@kbfitness.co.uk.
13:00 – 14:00 Ballroom and Latin, Studio LaDanza , 89 Holloway Road London N7 8LT
13:45 – 15:00 – Duplicate Bridge with West London Gay Bridge Group, Victoria Pub, Paddington. Please have a working knowledge of Bridge. This session is to teach duplicate, not bridge. To register, please email chris@cdtenor.freeserve.co.uk before 12th August
15:30 – 17:30 – Self Defence and Martial Arts with Ishigaki Ju Jitsu Club, Oasis Sports Centre, 32 Endell Street, WC2H 9AG London
15:45 – 18:00 – Squash with OutPlay Squash, Finsbury Leisure Centre, Old Street, Norman Street, London , EC1V 3PU. Please email outplay.ciws@ymail.com giving us your name and the session you would like to attend (4pm or 5pm).
18:30 – 20:00 – Swimming Taster Session – Out To Swim, Queen Mother Sports Centre, 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EL. Please register by ‘liking’ Out For Sport on facebook, find the ‘Out To Swim – Swimming Taster Session” and click ‘join’.
18:30 – Onwards – Out For Sport Night Out – Shadow Lounge, Soho. Hosted by Soho Rowing Club. Everyone welcome!
Sunday 19 August 2012
10:00 – 12:30 – Hockey with London Royals Hockey Club, John Orwell Sports Centre Tench Street, Wapping, E1W 2QD. To register, click ‘join’ on the London Royals Taster Session in the events section of the Out For Sport facebook page
12:45 – 15:30 – Men’s/Mixed Football with London Titans FC (11 Aside). Old Deer Park, Richmond. Please register your interest by emailing enquiries@londontitans.com
12:00 – 16:00 – Alternative Olympics and ‘bring your own’ picnic – Clapham Common Please register your interest by ‘liking’ Out For Sport on facebook, find the ‘London Royals Alternative Olympics’ and click ‘join’
13:00 – 16:00 – Volleyball with London Spikers Volleyball Club, Hyde Park (use Marble Arch tube)
14.00 – 17:00 – Men’s/Mixed Football with Leftfooters FC, Regent’s Park (North East corner, by Gloucester Gate)
15:00 – 20:00 – Roller Derby with London Roller Girls – Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre – NW10 0RG. Come at 3pm for an information session with Q&A, then watch the teams practice (3 hours), then head off to the Pub!
17:00 – 19:00 – Tennis with Tennis London, Westway Sports Centre, W10 6RP
17:30 – 19:45 – Synchronised Swimming, Out To Swim Angels, Queen Mother Sports Centre, 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL London. Click this link to send us your name and contact details. http://www.outtoswim.org/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&catid=12&id=8
Full Schedule for Out For Sport Week
Want to know what is happening day by day this week? Download the full schedule here!
22 Sports Taster Sessions in Out For Sport Week – 13th to 19th August – NEW SPORTS ADDED!
If you’ve been inspired by the Olympics, come and try a new sport for yourself. We’re aiming to welcome over a hundred new people to these sessions – so there’ll be plenty of other people trying out a new sport for the first time. We have something for everyone – regardless of age or sporting ability!
We have sports taster sessions running during the week: Sailing Social, Women’s Football, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s/Mixed Football, Women’s and Men’s Basketball and Waterpolo. And at the weekend:
Super Saturday
Runnning, Kickboxing, Ballroom & Latin, Duplicate Bridge, Self Defence & Martial Arts, Squash and Swimming taster sessions are running throughout the day and then the Out For Sport Night Out at the Shadow Lounge in the evening!
Sporty Sunday
Hockey, Football,Volleyball, More Football, Roller Derby, Tennis, Synchronised Swimming plus the Picnic and Alternative Olympics!
For information about each sport taster session, please check out the menu of events under the ‘Out For Sport Week 2012’ tab under the Out For Sport logo)
OR
Go to Out For Sport’s Facebook page and click on the events link under the Out For Sport Week timeline image.
