History of the Gay Games

In 1980, Dr. Tom Waddell, a 1968 Olympic decathlete, led a group of San Francisco residents including Mark Brown and Paul Mart in conceiving the event now known as the Gay Games. Tom dreamed of a sporting event based on the philosophy that "doing one's personal best should be the paramount goal in any athletic endeavor."

 

San Francisco Arts & Athletics (SFAA) was incorporated and supervised the logistics of both Gay Games I and II. Tom Waddell lost his battle with AIDS and died in July 1987, less than a year after Gay Games II, but his legacy was assured as the inspiration for future Gay Games. The SFAA board of directors, which included Tom's widow Sara Waddell Lewinstein, took steps to enlarge its membership beyond the Bay Area and in 1989 changed its name to the Federation of Gay Games.

No one involved with the first Gay Games — organisers, participants, supporters or spectators — knew quite what to expect beforehand, but the opening ceremony at Kezar Stadium on Saturday, 28 August, proved to be one of the most uplifting events in gay and lesbian history. That day marked the beginning of a week of spirited competition in 17 sports by about 1,350 athletes from 12 countries. Lives were changed, and it was clear the Gay Games would be held again.

 

1982	San Francisco		1,350 Participants
1986	San Francisco	„Triumph `86“	3,482 Participants
1990	Vancouver	„Celebration“	7,500 Participants
1994	New York City	“Unity ‘94”	10,864 Participants
1998	Amsterdam	„Friendship“	14,715 Participants
2002	Sydney	„Under New Skies“	14,500 Participants
2006	Chicago	„Where the World Meets“	11,500 Participants
2010	Cologne	„Be part of it!“	approx. 10,000 Participants

 

 

 

[1]© FGG	[2]© FGG	[3]© FGG
Belgium joined Gay Games I in 1982	Germany joined Gay Games I in 1982	France joined Gay Games I in 1982
[4]© Gersky		[5]© FGG
"Mother" of the Gay Games: Sara Waddell Lewinstein (1998 in Amsterdam)		"Vather" of the Gay Games: Tom Waddell (1986 in San Francisco)

 

For further information have a look at the website of the Federation of Gay Games: gaygames.com