Visitors and participants were asked for their impressions at the opening ceremony.
During the last days visitors and participants were asked for their impressions at the opening ceremony of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 last Saturday.
Every single one of them was full of enthusiasm about the event. The visitors much liked the run of the event, and – even that the stadium wasn´t sold out – the atmosphere was fantastic as if the stadium was filled up to the last seat. The entrance of the participants was touching. So many sparkling, expecting faces could be seen, their joy to be part of it could be felt by the spectators and got the crowd going.
The speeches of Foreign Minister Westerwelle and Mayor of Cologne Roters were praised and one felt addressed as well as recognized in one’s personal life situation. The feeling of finally being part of a society, which takes matters of gays and lesbians serious, was overwhelming.
The work of the volunteers, who partly had put hundreds of hours of preparing time into the supporting program, had been recognized. The show parts were judged as being full of action, professional and colourful. The tenor of the people asked was: “Awesome what you did with the little budget you had!” Several times the people stated that the Gay Games wouldn´t have to hide behind opening ceremonies at Olympic Games.
Specially praised was the stage program of Taylor Dayne. She kept the crowd going and turned the stadium into a party-mile. A person questioned commented on the official Gay Games song “Facing a miracle”: “ Every time I hear the song I get goose bumps. The lyrics of the winning song of the contest touch my feelings. And I like that it is played for the medal ceremonies. The opening ceremony, even the whole Games in Cologne were like facing a wonder. For me personally, this week doesn´t have to end!”
