Pride Month Spotlight: Gay Games – USTA Florida

The Tokyo Olympics are set to kick off on July 23. Only the best of the best will have the opportunity to go for gold for their countries this summer.

At the Gay Games, slated for Hong Kong in November of 2022, all are welcome to compete—regardless of skill level or sexual orientation. The 11th edition of the event will continue the Federation of Gay Games’ mission to promote equality, diversity and inclusion through sport.

That’s not to say that the competition is anything less than fierce. World records have been broken and sanctioned at the Gay Games, including in swimming events. But there’s a place for novices too.

“It really democratizes sports,” said Shiv Paul, Vice President of External Relations for the FGG. “You may have just taken up a sport that year, but you can be in an environment with somebody who actually holds the world record for that sport that you’re competing in. There isn’t really any other event like it.”

The Gay Games accepts all comers, with athletes able to enter various levels of competition, from beginner to elite. The 2022 Games will feature 36 sports, including dodgeball and e-sports for the first time, as well as the Chinese sport of dragon boat racing.

There has been some controversy around the Games heading to Hong Kong, according to Paul, but the organization views its first venture into Asia as another opportunity to make a difference.