Sports News

Contact:
Eric Carlyle, CEO
Media Out Loud, LLC
Publisher/Sports Out Loud
480.688.2080
eric@sportsoutloud.com
www.sportsoutloud.com

GAY SPORTS MAGAZINE LAUNCHED

First-of-its-kind publication to focus on the Local & Global Gay Athletic Scene

"Sports Out Loud is Men's Health meets Sports Illustrated with just a hint of The Advocate thrown in," says Carlyle. "We hope to serve a healthy dose of sports and fun for both the gay spectator and gay athlete."

The need is there. In the past year, a growing number of gay sporting events received national and international exposure. New York City hosted gay rugby's premier tournament, The Bingham Cup. And in the summer, thousands of gay athletes from around the world descended upon Chicago and Montreal for the Gay Games and the World Outgames.

What was missing from these monumental events? NO coverage by a leading gay sports magazine. Arizona-based Media Out Loud, LLC hopes to fill that void with its new entry into the gay publishing world, SPORTS OUT LOUD®.

Leading the editorial team is Echo Magazine's (Arizona's most widely read GLBT magazine) former assistant editor Ted Rybka. Rybka was also the former associate editor for a nationally-ranked top ten radio show whose work appeared nationwide in the Gannett Newspapers and on USA Today's Web site. Rybka brings a master's degree in mass media to his job and years of experience covering gay culture. But he is also an avid sportsman and athlete.

"To put it simply, I love journalism and I love sports. I feel very fortunate to be able to combine those two worlds," said Rybka.

Rounding out the magazine's creative team is Art Director, Phill Barber. Barber, a nationally recognized graphic artist brings his skills to his newest media—publishing.

For more information contact Eric Carlyle, CEO. Call 480-688-2080 or email eric@sportsoutloud.com.

Caption: Sports Out Loud in the community. Letwon Canton takes a break from playing softball to spread the word in Seattle about the nation's only gay sports magazine.

Hi-Resolution Image.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Roger Brigham, San Francisco
Officer of Communications
rbrigham@gaygames.org - Photos available of meeting attendees and co-presidents.

BOARD RESTRUCTURING AND LGBT SPORTS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES 2006 ANNUAL MEETING

FGG follows successful Chicago Gay Games VII in Chicago with plans for 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2007

The board restructuring is expected to improve the FGG’s operating ability by more closely resembling a non-profit organization model commonly recognized around the world. The new structure consists of a 19-person board of directors and a general assembly comprised of LGBT sports and culture organizations.

“This week we completed the latest step in our transformation from a board of 50 voting directors to a smaller working board and a larger, easier-to-join assembly,” said Sion O'Connor, newly-elected co-president of the FGG. “The assembly enables us to welcome greater numbers to participate directly in the work of the Federation. We look forward to welcoming sports clubs, culture groups, city teams and sports organizations from around the world to the Federation of Gay Games. We continue to embrace the principles of ‘participation, inclusion and personal best’ and are committed to being increasingly inclusive and visible to cross new frontiers for LGBT sport and culture.”

Organizations already on the FGG board automatically move to the assembly. Applications for new assembly members will be accepted during the 2006-07 board year for potential admission at the 2007 annual meeting. Details will be posted at a later date on the FGG website.

Chicago sent six representatives of Gay Games VII to report results from this past July’s successful event and to premiere their DVD of Gay Games VII highlights. Cologne’s Gay Games VIII organizing committee reported their plans for 2010. Both groups received an enthusiastic welcome.

San Francisco, the birthplace of the Gay Games, will host next year’s annual meeting to celebrate the Gay Games’ 25th anniversary.

The FGG meeting was followed on December 1-2 with the “Sports, Identities, Homosexuality and Homophobia” conference, co-sponsored by the FGG and the Centre of Research and Innovation about Sport (CRIS) of the University Claude Bernard Lyon-Villeurbanne.

“The conference affirmed the Federation’s commitment to social progress regarding LGBT sport through ongoing international dialogue,” said FGG co-president Kathleen Webster. “We maintain strong grassroots community ties and also reach out to mainstream organizations to open up issues about gender identity, misconceptions about the LGBT community, and how to empower people of all abilities to compete in their favorite sports throughout their lifetimes in a positive, healthy environment. We appreciate the leading role of CRIS in making the conference a success.”

A wide range of teachers, students, LGBT sports leaders and others from countries including France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, the U.S., the U.K. and Canada gathered for the two-day conference to discuss topics such as the medical definition of femininity in sports, masculine sporting identities, the two-decade impact of the Gay Games on LGBT sports development, and gender parity issues in France. It was the first such conference in Europe devoted exclusively to the LGBT community and sport.

One eastern European citizen’s attendance could not be identified due to potential arrest upon return home – a sobering reminder that progress on LGBT issues varies widely around the world.

The conference brought to a close the FGG’s week in Lyon. Elections for the FGG’s new board of directors resulted in a mix of experienced FGG officers and new talent from LGBT sports and cultural organizations. The 2006-07 board members will lead committee work in specific areas of responsibility:

Female Co-President*: Kathleen Webster (Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.) Male Co-President: Sion O’Connor (London/Miami) Vice President, Host Relations: Emy Ritt (Paris) Vice President, Operations*: Charlie Carson (New York) Vice President, Membership: Paul Oostenbrug (Chicago) Female Vice President – Diversity*: Joanie Evans (London) Secretary: Charles King (San Francisco) Treasurer: Alan Lessik (San Francisco) Officer of Sports*: Adelina Santiago (Hatfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.) Officer of Sports: Mike ZuZu (Philadelphia) Officer of Culture: Eddie Young (Atlanta) Officer of Governance: Teresa Galetti (Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.) Officer of Marketing*: Doug Litwin (San Francisco) Officer of Communications: Roger Brigham (San Francisco) Officer of Technology: Gene Dermody (San Francisco) Officer of International Development*: Shane Blakebrough (Johannesburg) Officer of Site Selection*: Darl Schaaff (Anchorage) Officer of Development (Sponsorship & Fundraising)*: Brent Minor (Washington, D.C.) Officer of Ceremonies*: James Busby (New York)

Board terms are for two years. Those marked with * serve a one year term until the position is up for election in 2007. Webster, Carson, Litwin, Blakebrough and Schaaff carry over in officer positions from the previous board. Outgoing officers include Roberto Mantaci and Manuel Picaud of Paris, who were co-president and treasurer, and Stephanie Johnstone from Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, who was senior vice president.

The FGG occasionally elects former or outgoing members to Honorary Life Member Status for outstanding service to the Federation. Elected this year were Johnstone, Mantaci and Picaud, as well as Richard Cobden and Richard Hogan, both of Sydney, Australia.

The meeting in Lyon marked the first time the FGG gathered in France. Manuel Picaud organized the week’s events with Philippe Liotard of CRIS. The meeting was also sponsored by the City Halls of Lyon and Villeurbanne, and sports organisations CARGO & Front Runners Lyon. Receptions were held at the Hôtel de Ville of Lyon (hosted by Michel Chomarat, Advisor to the Mayor of Lyon, and Deputy Mayor Pierre Lareal) and the Hôtel de Ville of Villeurbanne (hosted by Deputy Mayor Gilbert-Luc Devinaz and Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Estournel).

“The public face of the Federation of Gay Games does not completely depict the tireless work and dedication of the many volunteers inspired by the Gay Games to keep its legacy alive,” said Roberto Mantaci, outgoing Federation co-president. “I feel both privileged and honored to have led the Federation during the last five years. It is my hope that the new membership structure inspires many more people and groups to join the FGG, thus making more people aware of the scope of this work and strengthening the position of the LGBT sport and culture community as owner of the Gay Games to carry on this important mission.”

Chicago’s Gay Games VII DVD is available for purchase through both the FGG and Chicago Games websites. More information about the Federation of Gay Games and Chicago’s Gay Games VII can be found at www.gaygames.org and www.chicago2006.org.

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About the University of Sciences of Sports Claude Bernard Lyon I - UFRSTAPS - CRIS: CRIS is the centre of research of the University of Sciences of Sports Claude Bernard I of Lyon-Villeurbanne. It is the oldest and most important research centre in its area of France with historians, doctors, sociologists, psychologists, lawyers, and other professionals. It includes a research team about LGBT sports and homophobia managed by Philippe Liotard, tél. +33 (0)6 09 89 06 95, Maître of Conference.

About The Federation of Gay Games:
The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best.”™ The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990; 7,300 participants), New York (1994; 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998; 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002; 11,000 participants) and Chicago (2006; 11,700 participants).

The Federation of Gay Games thanks the board, staff and volunteers of Chicago Games, Inc., the organizing committee for Gay Games VII, held July 15-22 2006. The Federation gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Chicago and the staff and management of Chicago-area venues, notably Soldier Field and Wrigley Field. We also appreciate the support of the Global Sponsors of Gay Games VII, including Lexiva, Logo, PlanetOut/Gay.com, Sirius Satellite Radio, Walgreens, Centaur Entertainment, Fleishman Hillard International Communications, NBC 5 Chicago, Orbitz, McKnight Kurland Baccelli, Illinois State University, The New York Times, Olivia Cruises & Resorts, Pride Nation Network, Windy City Media Group, Absolut Vodka, American Airlines, Apogee Strategies, Athletico, Chicago Free Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Ernst & Young, GLAAD, Genre, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal Defense, Nike, QTG-Quaker/Tropicana/Gatorade, Sydney New Mardi Gras, Mate Magazine, Pink Magazine, QTG (Quaker/Tropicana/Gatorade), RCN, and Roosevelt University, and another 350 business sponsors which helped make Gay Games VII a success.

“Gay Games,” “Federation of Gay Games,” the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.

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