Gay Games: Team Rehoboth Brings Home Medals
On July 31, Team Rehoboth Beach descended upon Cologne Germany for Gay Games VIII.
There were nine team members who traveled from Delaware to Germany, ready to represent Rehoboth Beach in the games, which, like the Olympics, take place every four years. From the opening ceremony on July 31 to the closing on August 7, it was a memorable gathering in celebration of LGBT athletes and their communities.
In Cologne there were almost 10,000 athletes competing, representing 42 countries. And Team Rehoboth took home four gold and three bronze medals!
Members included: Team President Bill McManus (Bowling), David Nelson (Bowling), Barry Adkins (Bowling), Bruce Robertson (Bowling), Jim Nolan-Coach, Rich Williams (Tennis), Ellen Markowitz (Tennis), Lisa Laurie (Tennis), and Glen Parr (Marathon).
Ellen Markowitz brought home the gold medal in both singles and doubles tennis, while Lisa Laurie took gold in singles and doubles matches as well as bronze in mixed doubles.
Rich Williams took home a bronze medal for Mixed Doubles.
Over in the bowling lanes, Bill McManus advanced to the semifinals but failed to advance to the finals.
The Gay Games, unlike the Olympics, enable people from all walks of life to compete against each other regardless of skill level, age or physical challenge. The Federation of Gay Games’ slogan is Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best.
The first Gay Games took place in 1982 in San Francisco, bringing together 1,350 athletes from a dozen countries. The Games have been held every four years since in world-class cities. Gay Games VII in Chicago in 2006 attracted 11,500 participants from 70 countries. The Gay Games are one of the world’s largest amateur athletic events.
Team Rehoboth is a tax exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of LGBT sports at the beach. As for the time spent in Cologne, “It was fantastic,” says Bill McManus. ”We had a great time and had a lot of fun being a part of this huge event.”
Even though there was a lot of competition, Team Rehoboth did wonderfully well on the medal count and got the flavor of the German city by visiting the athlete’s Village and enjoying a variety of food and drink in the city.
Bill McManus is one of 50 international delegates to the Federation of Gay Games., Gay Games IX will be held in the Summer of 2014 in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The transfer of the official Gay Games flag from the host city to the next host is always an emotional experience, especially for those, like the German federation, who just gave their heart and soul for four years to plan, organize and execute a Gay Games.
With the games in the U.S. in four years, now is the time to start thinking about Team Rehoboth. The group expects a large contingent to compete in Cleveland. Whatever your sport or skill level, you can be part of this outstanding LGBT event.
If you are interested in joining the team and are not already on the e-mail list, contact Bill at william.mcmanus@juno.com.
Photo: Jim Nolan, Lisa Laurie, Ellen Markowitz. Back: David Nelson, Bruce Robertson, Bill McManus, Barry Adkins, Glenn Parr and Rich Williams