Copenhagen, Denmark—The pomp and pageantry of the second World Outgames was silenced here July 28 ( local time ) amid an alleged hate-crime attack during the track & field competition, held as Osterbro Stadium.
Dean Koga ( Photo by Kelly Stevens ) of the Seattle Frontrunners was injured by shrapnel when an explosive device was thrown on the track moments before the start of the men's 4 x 200 relay. Koga's right hand was injured; he required stitches from the explosion and had plastic removed from his hand. He has been released from the hospital, and was back on the track July 29.
The incident involved fireworks shot from a Roman candle, according to Gerry Hail of the World Outgames.
Competition was halted for about 90 minutes before athletes agreed to continue, said one eyewitness.
Shortly after the explosion, Copenhagen police apprehended a 31-year-old Danish man.
"It was one specific person who did [ the attack ] ," said Outgames President Uffe Elbaek. "I am so happy that the police were quick on the spot and arrested him. The charge is committing a hate crime.
"I was at the venue later in the day and the athletes were in good spirits. Today it was totally calm [ at the track venue ] .
"Even in country like Denmark that is very liberal, there always are people who have to show their intolerance [ for homosexuality ] and stupidity. And that's why [ events such as ] the World Outgames is needed."
Kogan competed in Chicago at the 2006 Gay Games. He was one of 37 members of the Seattle Frontrunners in Copenhagen.
"As the men's 4 X 200 relay was counting down to start, two explosive devices were thrown onto the track from behind a wall," said Jon Nicholson, also a member of the Seattle Frontrunners and an eyewitness to the event. "They exploded upon impact and resulted in Dean Koga sustaining injuries to his right hand from flying material. We had had four Seattle Frontrunners at the starting blocks at the time and 16 on the track. All others are unharmed, however a little shaken up.
Nicholson said Koga planned to compete in track events Wed., July 29, and Elbaek confirmed he was going to participate.
"A second attack device was thrown in another area of the stadium about 45 minutes later, however no one was injured," Nicholson said. "The track meet was delayed about 90 minutes, but all agreed to stop would be to give in to this hateful person and all events continued as planned."
Nicholson said that there were "a large number of uniformed and plain-clothes police protecting the stadium."
Nicholson added: "This is a very unfortunate event, but Seattle Frontrunners' moral has not been tempered. After winning eight medals in road races on Sunday, we will continue to do well on the track."
The Outgames ends its eight-day run here Saturday, Aug. 1.
The eighth Gay Games will be held next summer in Cologne, Germany; Gay Games officials issued a statement July 29 regarding the attack.
"We condemn the violent attacks against LGBT athletes and spectators during the Outgames taking place this week in Copenhagen, Denmark," according to the statement. "This week we are all Copenhageners and we stand in solidarity with Outgames organizers and the very gay-friendly people of Copenhagen against this kind of violence. Our thoughts are with the runner injured by the explosive devices at the track stadium and the people who were attacked on Sunday [ in a separate incident ] . We are pleased to hear that all injuries have been minor and that runner will still likely be able to compete. We extend our full support to all the participants at the Outgames. Copenhagen has a reputation as one of the most LGBT-friendly places on earth. Even there, we are reminded that our community still faces those that would deny us our basic human rights, even the freedom to run in a track meet in safety. But we will not be discouraged; rather, we will run, swim, jump, throw, grapple, volley and perform at events like the Gay Games and Outgames, celebrating our right to love who we want."
