Hector Torres has a simple goal for Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany: finish among the top three in all of the sports that he participates in.
Well, he also has another goal: to have fun.
Torres, 32, has a loaded schedule—on the competitive side of his international journey, that is. He is participating in the Olympic triathlon, the 10K run, the 5K run, the 26.2-mile marathon and three cycling events ( criterium, mountain bike and time trial ) .
"I am extremely excited [ for ] the Games," said Torres, who lives in Orlando, Fla., and only ran the marathon at the 2006 Games in Chicago. "This time around, I feel stronger, fearless and driven. I have been training smart and hard for the past couple of years. I am confident enough within myself that I will have a great performance."
Torres is the head coach for Tri Peak Athlete, LLC and the Central Florida YMCA. He is one of about 9,600 registered participants from around the world heading to the quadrennial sports and cultural extravaganza ( July 31-Aug. 7 ) that is making its debut in Germany. Past Games have been held in San Francisco ( twice ) , including the first ever, in 1982, as well as Sydney, Vancouver, New York City and Amsterdam.
About 2,500 U.S. residents will join Torres in Cologne.
"Equality, leadership and strength … those are the words that come to mind when I think of the Gay Games," Torres said. "For many years, the gay community has been misrepresented, unlooked and stereotyped by society. This is our chance to be heard and allow our society to understand that gay athletes can compete at the professional level.
"In Chicago, I only did one event and then had to head home. I am going to Europe for the first time and I want to have fun. Chicago was a great experience and I can never replace it with another event. The city was welcoming, the organization structure was well run and they set the bar for many other event organizers to meet."
But Torres, with his sculpted physique, is even more prepared for the Cologne Games—and to win gold—than four years ago.
"The most important word I will say is: wise," Torres said. "I had my share of racing since the Chicago Games and my mentality towards the sport has given me a different approach as an athlete and a coach. I am calmer, ... insightful and confident."
Torres had best pack his A-game when he jets across the Atlantic Ocean because he's going to have plenty of competition. The marathon, road races and track & field events are the most popular sports this year—with more than 1,500 registrants.
Soccer is the most popular team sport, with about 1,031 registrants. Swimming has 879 participants; there will be more than 820 volleyball players. There are about 500 dance sport participants and more than 400 for badminton.
"People are excited, and looking forward to a very European Gay Games event," said Michael Klein, Games Cologne spokesperson.
Softball had lower enrollment than organizers had expected, mostly because it just is not very popular in Europe and the fact that the annual Gay Softball World Series is being held in mid-August in Columbus, Ohio.
Klein said registrations from the U.S. are, "a bit low, but not unexpected in the current economic conditions in the USA." Airfare overseas from Chicago is about $1,500 even with advance purchase.
"We are very pleased [ with the overall registration ] ," Klein said. "Some speculated only 6,500 or 8,000 maximum [ would register ] after Copenhagen was only able to have [ about ] 4,300 athletes and cultural participants [ for the 2009 World Outgames ] . Fortunately, Cologne is a well-loved 'Gay City' in Europe and is very affordable for Europeans. The Gay Games focused on marketing to established sports clubs around the world. It helps to have 27 years of history. We think having nearly 10,000 [ overall, along ] with another 2,000 running side by side with the LGBT people in the half-marathon is quite excellent."
Klein said there are 2,730 registered from Germany, followed by the U.S.' 2,500, followed by 800 from the United Kingdom and 605 from the Netherlands.
"These [ Games ] will be very special because Games Cologne added a special Gay Games village at Rudolfplatz and Neumarkt in the heart of the city, so the celebrations can occur beyond Opening Ceremony and continue every night in the Gay Games Villages," Klein said. "Cologne is a city that does more than respect diversity; Cologne loves, and lives diversity."
However, Germany has not been without anti-gay feedback of late. In the sports world, no less.
The agent for the captain of Germany's national soccer team has blamed "gay players" for the nation's failure to capture the World Cup title, sparking a firestorm of criticism. Michael Becker, who represents captain Michael Ballack, scoffed at the "bunch of gays" on the World Cup team in an interview with Der Spiegel. Becker attributed the team's more elegant and agile play to their homosexuality, and said that style over German teams' more traditional aggressive approach cost the athletes a place in the World Cup finals."
Becker also said other players were "jealous" of Ballack, who was photographed for Vanity Fair, because they were "mediocre, ugly, untalented, bureaucratic, provincial, unmanly or gay," noted reporter Alexander Osang.
A spokesman for another German team blasted Becker's remarks, saying the club has, "absolutely no resentment toward homosexuals."
German national coach Joachim Löw refused to respond, saying he would "not stoop so low."
Germany's World Cup team has been hailed for being the youngest in 76 years and more ethnically diverse than ever.
Said Klein, of Games Cologne: "The Gay Games are important to the world. The Gay Games are important even in countries like Germany with strong LGBT rights. The Gay Games change perception of gay and lesbian people in the world. Cologne has always been a very open city with people who like to celebrate. Cologne is one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe."
U.S. singer Taylor Dayne recorded the theme song for Games Cologne, and donated proceeds from the song to the event organizers. She will perform at the opening ceremony.
"I am amazed at how little time seems to have passed between Gay Games VII and VIII," said Paul Oostenbrug, 60, of Chicago, who is the Federation of Gay Games vice president, membership.
"I love the Games. I had a blast in Amsterdam in 1998, just after I'd moved to Chicago. Gay Games IV was my first full Games as I had taken the train from Boston to New York City in 1994 to enjoy the scene, run the marathon, attend a water polo game and the Closing Ceremony at Yankee Stadium. Being a full week in [ Amsterdam ] , with loads of LGBTs who over-ran the town, was wonderful. I suspect Cologne will have much that same feeling."
Oostenbrug joined the Board of Team Chicago in 1999 and is still active on it.
"Looking at things from Team Chicago's perspective, we are about on a par with Team Sydney," in terms of members, he said. "I am confident that Chicagoans—and our friends from Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida, Texas and other states whose athletes could join our group as we march into Opening Ceremony—will have a great time, meet some world-class LGBTs, win a few medals, and bring home lots of great memories."
Oostenbrug, the president of East Bridge Consultants, is the chairman of the FGG Scholarship Committee, which is responsible for 35 scholarship recipients from various parts of the world other than Eastern Europe, which Games Cologne retained for itself.
He will be running the 26.2-mile marathon and also participating in a few track & field events as part of a 60-and-over team with others from the Sydney Frontrunners.
Oostenbrug is one of about 100 Games participants from the Chicago area.
Cyd Zeigler, 37, of Los Angeles, the co-founder of Outsports.com, will be attending the Games, but only as a reporter this time, opting out of track & field events that landed him a gold in 2002, or the flag football gold he won in Chicago.
"While the Gay Games brand awareness has certainly grown, there are just so many more tournaments and [ predominantly ] gay sports events now than there were 12 years ago," Zeigler said. "People don't have to go to the Gay Games anymore to compete at a high level in their sport. So, coupled with the economic recession and the decision to host the event in Europe, it's not surprising that participation could be the lowest it's been since 1990. People will want to point fingers and claim the event is somehow 'less than' because of the lower-than-expected turnout. But the event will be fantastic for everyone who attends, and I can't wait."
Zeigler said he has "so many" fond past Gay Games memories, "and that's what makes the event so great."
"I can remember trailing, heading into my anchor leg of the 4X100-meter [ race ] in Sydney and blowing the other guy off the track. I remember finding a 'holiday husband' in Sydney. I remember hobbling over to the swimming center in Chicago, dragging my injured leg with me," he said.
What about a fondest Games memory?
"That is so tough [ to pick, ] " Zeigler said. "For me, it's got to be making the game-winning tackle in Chicago to beat the home team [ in flag football ] . They were the defending Gay Bowl champions and were heavy favorites to win gold in their Gay Games. Beating them on the last play of the game catapulted us to gold. That was special."
Many more special memories will come from Cologne.
NOTE: Please read profiles of various Gay Games competitors from Chicago who are traveling to Cologne online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com .
