While a record heat wave left visitors sweating, for the 11,650 participants of the seventh Gay Games, which opened Saturday, July 15, at Soldier Field in Chicago, being drenched in sweat was the goal.
Amid the bustle of registration, which finished at the Chicago Hilton Hotel earlier that day, thousands of participants greeted each other and took care of last-minute questions and needs before opening ceremonies that night.
For Robert Shimmel from Wyandotte, Mich., the Games are part of his impressive record of having competed in more than 260 marathons. “I’ve done one in every state three times,” said Shimmel, who is 76. “I’ve also done every Canadian province and territory once.” Married to a woman and “a hundred percent gay,” Shimmel said, “my family encourages me to do whatever I want.” In addition to competing in the marathon, Shimmel planned to watch the country-western dance competition.
Even before athletes entered Soldier Field for opening ceremonies, an air of festivity prevailed. Jody Gates of Team New Orleans women’s basketball handed out colorful Mardi Gras beads to passersby. Competing in the “over 50” category, Gates has played basketball since childhood, and has joined with straight and lesbian players from the Senior Olympics to compete. “It’s wonderful to be here,” said Gates. “We ran in Amsterdam’s Games and in New York. It’s a great experience, all the way around.”
Gates, 67, said about 30 New Orleans residents traveled to Chicago to be in the Games. “[Our group’s> a lot smaller this year, for obvious reasons,” said Gates, referring to the devastation of last year’s Hurricane Katrina, which swept through the Gulf Coast. Nevertheless, Team New Orleans will compete in tae kwon do, bowling, volleyball and other sports. “Some of us lost our homes and are living with friends or in trailers. I’m living in half my home. We’re thrilled to be here in Chicago, come hell and high water!”
The traditional hours-long waiting game of grouping athletes at their entry points to the stadium passed quickly with the help of hundreds of volunteers, like Dave Schumaker, who carried hundreds of bottles of water for thirsty athletes. Christopher Rowe, also a volunteer, said, “I’m carrying a nation’s flag today, helping at water polo tomorrow, and with wrestling on Monday.”
The Games’ opening ceremonies, produced by Kile Ozier, hearkened back to the 1994 Games in New York, where a spectacle filled with American traditions inspired the thousands of local and visiting athletes and cultural participants.
Bursting onto the green football lawn of Soldier Field, members of Team San Francisco, hundreds strong and in colorful blue jackets, marched toward a giant golden cauldron. Since the Gay Games began in San Francisco, “the Athens of the Games” is always given the honor of being first on the field. But, soon enough, participants from 65 countries marched in, rounded off by the 2,500-strong Team Chicago, and quickly filled the playing field. Some stood while others relaxed on the cool grassy field. As darkness ensued, athletes, on cue, lit up 11,000 glow-sticks in six colors, making a giant, twinkling rainbow flag.
Figure skater and Federation of Gay Games (FGG) board member Laura Moore has been involved in the FGG’s scholarship task force, which brought nearly 100 athletes from South Africa, Croatia, Papua New Guinea, and other countries. “We had a special reception on Saturday to welcome these guests,” said Moore. “The speeches were tearful