VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

Ludwig von Beethoven’s „Seid umschlungen Millionen“

95 participants from 10 countries are ‘being part of it’ in the small arena, which usually serves as the practice hall of the ‘Kölner Haie’ (Cologne Sharks ice hockey team), in the fight for the figure skating medals. They are between 18 and 60 years old and are taking part in the Single, Pair and Dance disciplines. In addition, there is improvised dance, group numbers (Production team) and obligatory dances in approximately 90 different competitions. That means a real shower of medals!

The supervisor of the figure skating competitions, Philipp Carouge from Cologne, who has been skating himself since he was 6 years old, certainly has his hands full. Big challenges are constantly changing the schedule. The desires of all the skaters need to be taken into consideration and there are always more late registrations coming in for individual competitions. Philipp, who is now taking part in the Gay Games for the third time, also has to concentrate on his own skating. The standard of the participants is of a surprisingly high level and there is sure to be a treat for the eyes. A distinctive feature of figure skating at the Gay Games, which is not to be seen in other international competitions, is that skating pairs can comprise exclusively of two men or two women; an aesthetic, which does not work at all embarrassingly.

The ‘baby’ of the participants is 18 year old Marie Behle from Cologne, who could already win two medals (silver and bronze) in her discipline. She is a member of a gay and lesbian association, which was not at all easy to explain to her circle of friends, because the pretty girl - like a lot of other participants at the Gay Games - is not lesbian. She laughs because, to her and her mother, who is accompanying her, that doesn’t make any difference. She simply cherishes the acceptance within the association. She thinks the Gay Games are great. Even at the very beginning of the Games, marching into the stadium at the Opening Ceremony was a special experience for her. And she has already experienced that in competition, whether the performances are of the very highest standard or just average, the public reacts unbelievably warmly to every skater. With the colleagues, you can talk to them very easily and they are very relaxed and open-minded.

In the hall, a great atmosphere prevails. One of the participants in the men’s competition selected music from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, ‘Seid umschlungen, Millionen’, for his performance. The feeling sweeps across the ice into ranks of the public. You somehow get the need to embrace the person sitting next to you in the joy of the magnificent Gay Games VIII 2010 in Cologne.

Today’s figure skating competitions are locked traditionally with the skating exhibition of the very best. This is the only event, for which an entrance fee must be paid. But the event has already been sold out for days.

© Hebel

© Hebel

More photos can be found at http://www.qubesport.net/photos