“I’m excited to be part of something so important for our communities around the globe. This event brings lesbian and gay life out on the court, onto the track, and into the pool," Matthew explains. “Being ‘out’ for me means being just as I am with nothing to be ashamed about and no reasons to hide. Participating at the Gay Games is a great chance for all gays and lesbians to show that we as a community are not like the stereotypes the straight media loves to portray. I will take time off from training and travel to Cologne, since I strongly feel we have to celebrate our own values and help others to accept that it is ok to be different.”
Matthew Mitcham won the gold medal in 10 meter platform diving at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, winning on a final dive that had the highest single-dive score in Olympic history. He was one of 11 openly-gay athletes at the Beijing Olympics.
Matthew will capture his trip to Germany and participation in the Gay Games on his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-Mitcham-Olympian/23129711303), allowing people who can’t be there to follow his personal story of being involved in a life-changing event like the Gay Games. Matthew will be making appearances at several events while in Cologne, but will not be participating in the sports program.
Caption: Clockwise starting from upper right: Matthew Mitcham; Kate Rowe (seated)(also a COMPETE Magazine 2009 Athlete of Year Finalist), Federation of Gay Games; Philipp Lischke (kneeling), Australian representative of Games Cologne; Kai Peters, General Manager Lufthansa in Australia. Photo by Will Chiung. See link below for high resolution photo.
Emy Ritt and Kurt Dahl, co-presidents of the Federation of Gay Games, are thrilled to have in Matthew Mitcham another top athlete supporting this year’s quadrennial sports and cultural event. “Matthew, one of the most recognised openly gay sports persons of our time at just age 21, is a fantastic role model, especially for younger people. He is focused and successful in his sport and doesn’t have to hide being gay. This is something of which Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell would have been so proud. After almost 30 years, the Gay Games continues to make lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender life visible through sports and culture, thus allowing new generations to be accepted just as they are. The wonderful video he recorded for us (viewable at http://www.gaygames.com/) has already generated significant positive reaction from around the world.”
German Airline Lufthansa has generously agreed to provide Matthew’s air travel to Germany. Kai Peters, General Manager of Lufthansa Australia: “Lufthansa created an attractive discounted airfare-package for all Gay Games participants from Australia. By flying Matthew to the Gay Games in Germany, Lufthansa wants to give something back to the community, as he represents something no money can buy. We will have a fantastic young Australian athlete in Cologne at the Gay Games who fascinated so many of us when he proudly hugged his partner in public and in front of the world’s media after receiving his gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”
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