Gay Games massage volunteers. Photo by Patsy Lynch
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While Gay Games athletes and volunteers were hard at work hitting, throwing, lifting and/or and spinning, the sports recovery teams were hard at work helping participants to keep in shape.
The teams provided more than 5,000 sports massage tune-ups July 15-22. The massage therapists provided tune-ups for many of the 12,000 athletes participating in the Games as well as for volunteers and staff. Teams were located in each of the five village hubs, along with various athletic venues, the triathlon and marathon.
About 260 volunteers took part in the Games. The Cortiva Institute provided 145 volunteers who were responsible for 3,300 massage tune-ups. The National University of Health Sciences, Northwestern Business College and independent massage therapists provided 45, 15 and 55 volunteers, respectively.
Athletico also donated hundreds of staff hours for Gay Games VII, especially at high intensity sports such as triathlon and soccer. As a global sponsor of the Gay Games, Athletico not only promoted the events, but paid for staff to work at the sporting tournaments.