A series of letters from two different Berlin gay sports groups may have furthered the rift between the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and the organizers of Montreal's OutGames.
The split began in November 2003. Montreal was set to host Gay Games VII, but refused to sign contracts at the annual FGG meeting, and soon after unveiled its own plan to create a competing event. Montreal then changed the name of its event from Montreal 2006 to OutGames, and created a governing body called the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA).
Meanwhile, FGG quickly signed a deal with Chicago Games, Inc., a previous bidder for the 2006 Games. The race for endorsements and participants commenced. That competition has now extended to 2009-2010, with Berlin at the heart of the next Games controversy. Both the FGG and GLISA are wooing Berlin sports organizers for a bid to host their next GLBT sports events.
The potential for another pair of competing events led to an October announcement from Games Berlin, a group that had been in talks with GLISA to host OutGames II.
'The Berlin GLBT sports community regrets the split which has occurred on the international level and feels that the symbolic, social, financial, and economic effects of this split are counter-productive,' Games Berlin's Oct. 6 letter stated. 'We have therefore decided to take the initiative and to actively attempt to reunite—or at least reconcile—the two global organizations FGG and GLISA so that unified Games can be held in 2009-2010.'
'The real victims of this dispute are the athletes who have to choose between OutGames and Gay Games in 2006,' says Dagmar Timm, co-executive director of Games Berlin. 'After that, only unified Games will offer all athletes the opportunity to come together in the true spirit of global gay and lesbian Games.'
Games Berlin has so far been the only bidder for OutGames II in 2009, making it appear to be a done deal. But Vorspeil Berlin, a larger GLBT German sports group, is dismissing that bid, saying it instead will focus on hosting Gay Games VIII in 2010. Vorspeil Berlin dismissed both Games Berlin and GLISA's plea for 'reconciliation' as a ploy to piggyback onto the success of the Gay Games.
'GLISA is an initiative of several individuals, concentrated mainly in Europe and Canada, and still lacks broad international support,' Vorspeil Berlin stated. 'GLISA's intention to represent sports clubs and groups only indirectly via continental associations is not viable on an international level, since only one exists [the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Association, EGLSA], and [GLISA] is not a transparent form of representation.'
Nor has GLISA been exactly honest. When Team New York's president, Christian West, personally supported GLISA in June 2004, GLISA was criticized for implying a Team New York endorsement. Team New York's board of directors had to clarify in several media outlets that they had not endorsed OutGames.
After GLISA members attended the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) World Soccer Championships in San Francisco this August, GLISA posted these statements on a press release and on their Web site: 'Many teams expressed their interest in and support for OutGames. The Championships will not be held in 2006 to allow athletes to participate in the OutGames.'
But in fact, no gay soccer group, particularly IGLFA, has endorsed OutGames. Barry Skown of the San Francisco Spikes, the team that hosted IGLFA's 2004 soccer tournament, calls GLISA's statement 'completely false and erroneous. The annual IGLFA Tournament has been held in conjunction with the Gay Games every four years for the past 20 years.'
Although they have yet to decide if a preference will be stated, Skown says, 'IGLFA has been, and continues to be, an active member of the FGG, and plans to continue that relationship. When, and if, a decision by our board has been reached, we will announce that decision. Until that time, neither event has the right to claim that the IGLFA Championship Tournament will be held in connection with their event.'
Other large GLBT sports groups are declaring their preferences. At the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) tournament, held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in October, IGLA's board voted to continue its close relationship with the FGG and rejected a proposal to join GLISA. IGLA's annual tournaments draw up to 1,500 GLBT swimmers, divers, and water polo players.
As for the next Gay Games in 2010, Vorspeil Berlin's dismissal of GLISA and the OutGames may force Montreal to face its future. 'Nobody will profit from having two rival events competing for legitimacy, support, and participation,' said Vorspeil's announcement. 'It should be clear to us all that only one organization and its event can hope to survive. The number of qualified cities willing to take on the responsibilities of hosting such an event is limited.'
An Oct. 21 statement from GLISA claims otherwise. 'The global GLBT sport movement is large enough and mature enough to support several events in the same year without having a negative impact on those events,' it states.
But while the same announcement claims to put aside previous disputes, GLISA accuses others (allegedly FGG representatives) of making 'personal attacks' on GLISA. It then specifically blames FGG for a history of financial failure, and accuses the group of being 'undemocratic.'
However, GLISA's board was privately chosen, while FGG representatives are elected. The GLISA statement also asserts that it 'has never positioned itself against any existing group in the GLBT sporting community,' when it previously proclaimed that its entire purpose was to counter what it saw as flaws with the FGG.
No wonder, then, that the multiple sports groups that comprise Team Berlin, which brought the largest European team to the Gay Games in Amsterdam and Sydney, have dismissed GLISA and its often conflicting assertions, as have IGLA and other sports groups.
Inevitably, the Gay Games will continue its aim toward global representation. It's therefore probable that Gay Games VIII will be in Europe, and Berlin will definitely be a key player.
Jim Provenzano is the author of the novels PINS and Monkey Suits. Read more sports articles at www.sportscomplex.org . He can be reached care of this publication or at sportscomplex@qsyndicate.com .
