Symbolic “Rainbow Run” will travel to New York, Vancouver, Sydney, Amsterdam and Chicago before heading to Germany for the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne
Sydney, Australia – This Saturday, 27 February 2010, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will take on new significance for the world’s LGBT athletes. Local sports groups, led by Sydney’s Frontrunners gay & lesbian running club, will carry a special memorial rainbow flag during the parade as the 2nd leg of the International Rainbow Memorial Run (IRMR), the “Torch Run” for the quadrennial Gay Games.
Sydney was the host of Gay Games VI in 2002 and the Mardi Gras Parade is their annual “pride” parade. The parade steps off at 7:45 pm local time. Live TV coverage is available in Australia on Fox’s Arena Network. For more info, visit www.mardigras.org.au.
San Francisco
The Rainbow Run got underway last weekend in San Francisco, 21 February 2010, the birthplace of the Gay Games movement and host of Gay Games I and II in 1982 and 1986. A special ceremony at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park was followed by a ceremonial run of the flag to San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, home of the Gay Games I (1982) and Gay Games II (1986) Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Following that ceremony, the flag was shipped to Sydney, Australia, for the Mardi Gras Parade.
Rainbow Run
Every four years, the Rainbow Run helps the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) celebrate the lives of those who have graced the Gay Games movement and served or participated in the Games. “In many ways, this is our own ‘torch’ run,” said Brent Nicholson Earle, founder and organizer of the IRMR, “and we begin by renewing our connection with San Francisco, ‘our Athens,’ the city of our birth. We then travel to all past host cities to honor their role in the movement.” The event celebrates friends of the Gay Games lost to AIDS and other diseases, including US Olympian and Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell.
World Tour
The Rainbow flag will travel to the former Host Cities of the Gay Games with symbolic or 5K runs held in each city. Having now been in San Francisco and Sydney, the flag will travel to Vancouver, Canada (Gay Games III, 1990), New York, USA (Gay Games IV, 1994), Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Gay Games V, 1998), and Chicago, USA (Gay Games VII, 2006) before traveling to Cologne, Germany, host of Gay Games VIII, this coming 31 July to 7 August 2010. Similar events are being held throughout Germany in cooperation with local AIDS service organizations.
Cologne 2010 Opening Ceremony
The International Rainbow Memorial Run will make its way to Cologne after a tour through Germany in late July. On the morning of Saturday, 31 July 2010, a special ceremony will be followed by the official International Memorial (5K) Rainbow Run. The flag and flag bearers will enter RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne’s famous soccer stadium, that evening during Gay Games VIII Opening Ceremony leading the parade of athletes.
To learn more about the history of the Gay Games movement, or to learn about an upcoming stop by the International Rainbow Memorial Flag, visit www.gaygames.com. For information about the 2010 Gay Games, visit www.games-cologne.com (English) or www.games-cologne.de (German).
Thursday, February 25, 2010
HCG Diet Day 20
MY SKIN IS SO DRY!!!
I've been trying to avoid any oil with soap and bought some Na-PCA spray, which is one of the products approved for the diet to replace moisture in dry skin. It has been SO itchy, so much so that there are cracks that have turned into cuts. There is a lot of dryness in my feet and hands if I don't use the Na-PCA.
On the bright side I've lost 20 pounds in 20 days. This all makes it worth it. I have also realized I'm going to either load up on eating celery (for fiber) or have some laxitive tea every three days.
I do have to admit a little bit of embarrassment for chewing food I'm not supposed to have on the diet and spitting it into the trash. Hey, I'm not going bulemic or anything, I just don't want to give in to my cravings. That's the funny thing, I'm not hungry, but I do get some cravings. I eat something approved for the diet instead. Just two days ago, I was so hungry I ate five celery stalks. FIVE! And I still didn't have to go to the restroom the next day!
On the bright side, I only have four more injections after today and seven more day of eating the HCG Diet-approved food. One more week until I can eat cheese and have butter! One the negative side, I still have four more weeks without any starches or grains. It's all worth it, though!
I've been trying to avoid any oil with soap and bought some Na-PCA spray, which is one of the products approved for the diet to replace moisture in dry skin. It has been SO itchy, so much so that there are cracks that have turned into cuts. There is a lot of dryness in my feet and hands if I don't use the Na-PCA.
On the bright side I've lost 20 pounds in 20 days. This all makes it worth it. I have also realized I'm going to either load up on eating celery (for fiber) or have some laxitive tea every three days.
I do have to admit a little bit of embarrassment for chewing food I'm not supposed to have on the diet and spitting it into the trash. Hey, I'm not going bulemic or anything, I just don't want to give in to my cravings. That's the funny thing, I'm not hungry, but I do get some cravings. I eat something approved for the diet instead. Just two days ago, I was so hungry I ate five celery stalks. FIVE! And I still didn't have to go to the restroom the next day!
On the bright side, I only have four more injections after today and seven more day of eating the HCG Diet-approved food. One more week until I can eat cheese and have butter! One the negative side, I still have four more weeks without any starches or grains. It's all worth it, though!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
HCG Diet Day 15
Ok, so I got my days mixed up and yesterday was actually day 14, not 13.
Hallejuah! I'm down five pounds since last Sunday. The plateu has officially been busted! I also had a buffalo steak today. It had about half the calories about of a beef steak and 1/4 of the fat! When I can have bread again, I will definitely have buffalo burger. They are so low in fat, they really don't shrink much when you cook them!
My approximate loss so far is 15 pounds. I'm really hoping for at least ten more pounds lost for a total of 25.
Hallejuah! I'm down five pounds since last Sunday. The plateu has officially been busted! I also had a buffalo steak today. It had about half the calories about of a beef steak and 1/4 of the fat! When I can have bread again, I will definitely have buffalo burger. They are so low in fat, they really don't shrink much when you cook them!
My approximate loss so far is 15 pounds. I'm really hoping for at least ten more pounds lost for a total of 25.
Friday, February 19, 2010
HCG Diet Day 13
FINALLY! I lost two pounds. The plateau is busted. I cut out oranges and started eating strawberries instead (they're lower in sugar). Today I'm going to get some buffalo steak and eat those instead of beef. Hopefully the lower fat content will help. Oh and I'm going to try to stick to organic meat. Hopefully that will help, too.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 need your help!
The Cologne Gay Games is major international event, and there is a place for you even if you are not going to participate in the sports or cultural programs. The Games are a huge project that requires a great deal of individual and group support. You can become a part of Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. We need you! Become one of more than 3,000 volunteers who will make the Cologne Gay Games the largest sport and cultural celebration in the world. Be part of it!
So far there are over 100 different types of Volunteer positions identified. In the upcoming weeks more tasks and needs will be identified. We are looking for support from a wide range of different areas and abilities. The jobs range from accreditation workers and tournament escorts to driving services, support for visitors, and specific sports support.
It does not matter whether you come from Cologne, Germany or another part of the world. We want your help whether you speak German, English, or another language. You can volunteer if you want to help with a certain sport, with the cultural and events area, or with the opening ceremony. We will have the perfect Volunteer task for you!
Here is how it works:
- Review the positions offered in the Volunteers Portal and choose one of the options.
- Not finding the position you want? Register as a volunteer and you will receive information about new positions which you can choose.
The Volunteers Portal offers even more. It puts you in contact with other volunteers. You may find someone in your area. The portal will provide training for your task in Cologne. You will also receive information about the special masters program for the Volunteers, about admission to evening meetings, and much more. The volunteer coordinator for your chosen area will provide you with up-to-date information over the portal.
Of course you can also register as a volunteer, even if you have already registered as a participant in a sport or a cultural event.
So far there are over 100 different types of Volunteer positions identified. In the upcoming weeks more tasks and needs will be identified. We are looking for support from a wide range of different areas and abilities. The jobs range from accreditation workers and tournament escorts to driving services, support for visitors, and specific sports support.
It does not matter whether you come from Cologne, Germany or another part of the world. We want your help whether you speak German, English, or another language. You can volunteer if you want to help with a certain sport, with the cultural and events area, or with the opening ceremony. We will have the perfect Volunteer task for you!
Here is how it works:
- Review the positions offered in the Volunteers Portal and choose one of the options.
- Not finding the position you want? Register as a volunteer and you will receive information about new positions which you can choose.
The Volunteers Portal offers even more. It puts you in contact with other volunteers. You may find someone in your area. The portal will provide training for your task in Cologne. You will also receive information about the special masters program for the Volunteers, about admission to evening meetings, and much more. The volunteer coordinator for your chosen area will provide you with up-to-date information over the portal.
Of course you can also register as a volunteer, even if you have already registered as a participant in a sport or a cultural event.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
HCG Diet Day 11
Tina! Christopher! DAMN IT!
I hit a plateau. It sucks. I called Deb at Dr. Budnick's office at a co-workers urging. She said I should try a laxative. It could just be constipation.
I'm going to try that and see what happens.
I hit a plateau. It sucks. I called Deb at Dr. Budnick's office at a co-workers urging. She said I should try a laxative. It could just be constipation.
I'm going to try that and see what happens.
MATTHEW MITCHAM SHOWS: EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE
Olympic gold medal diver Matthew Mitcham makes his way to Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010
5,300 artists and athletes have already registered at Cologne's sports and cultural festival Gay Games VIII (www.games-cologne.com) and every new day the numbers grow. Now, Australian Olympic gold medalist Matthew Mitcham has announced he will travel to Germany to be part of Cologne's edition of the Gay Games. Matthew will be making appearances at several events while in Cologne, but won’t be competing in the sports program.
“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’ means for me 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 will capture his trip to Germany and participation in the Gay Games on his Facebook page, allowing people who can’t be there to follow his personal story of being involved in a life-changing event like the Gay Games.
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