Loading ...- Category:
- Sport
- Author:
- Andie Noonan
- Posted:
- Thursday, 12 March 2009
Wellington, New Zealand will host the second Asia Pacific Outgames, to be held March 12-19 2011. The first Outgames were held in Melbourne last year.
The Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) and organising body Wellington2011 signed an official contract last week.
GLISA president Peter Sagar said he feels the games are in safe hands and the city has the capacity to host the event successfully after a site inspection in November.
-œThere are well-established venues to hold a range of sports they are intending to hold and a new sports complex is being built. Even without that new structure the city should be able to support the games, he told Southern Star.
-œThere has also been a high level of political support and strong interest from different levels of government.
Sagar is looking forward to the -œjump across the pond and said the games should have a cosy atmosphere.
-œWellington is compact and smaller but that will give a great feeling and energy during the games because of its uniqueness.
Wellington2011 has also been given a $5000 grant from the legacy fund of the first Asia Pacific Outgames as -œseed money to get the event up and running.
Although still two years away, Wellington2011 organising committee member Hamish Allardice urged people to think ahead about participating in the games.
-œKnowing that the event will be in Wellington in 2011 gives people plenty of time to prepare, train for a sport, create research papers that could be presented at one of the conferences, create an exhibition, or work on your body for dance moves at the parties, he said.
Like the Melbourne event the second Asia Pacific Outgames will not only be a sporting competition but host other events, including a human rights program, parties, opening and closing ceremonies, theatre performances and traditional Maori cultural events.
Sports on the program so far include dancesport, fast-pitch softball, running, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
Sports on the proposed list include rugby, netball, badminton, water polo, soccer, rowing, hockey, squash, golf, lawn bowls, ten pin bowling, croquet, triathlon, diving and mountain biking.
The human rights conference will focus on issues including AIDS, transgender and youth issues and will celebrate the 25th anniversary of homosexual law reform in New Zealand.
Tags: AIDS, Asia Pacific Outgames, GLISA, new zealand, Peter Sagar, transgender, Wellington
July 17th, 2009 @ 10:31 am
The 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames website will be officially launched today by Wellington City’s Mayor, Kerry Prendergast.
Check out the gorgeous new website: http://www.wellingtonoutgames.com