The Gay Games: The Play of Sexuality, Sport - Victoria University ...

Most "participanf interviews also occurred at this time. "Participant" interviewees
were sourced from three main avenues. "Organisers" recommended "Participants",
they were met situationally during the research project, or they were friends who had
attended a Gay Games.^^ For instance, one of the most interesting and informative
"participanf interviews eventuated from meeting a total stranger on a train in the
London imderground. I had just flown into London from Amsterdam and happened to
sit next to a woman wearing lesbian signed earrings and political lapel pins. I stmck
up a conversation, leamt that she had played soccer at the Gay Games in New York,
and subsequently lined up an interview for the following evening.
Other demographic information relevant in gaining an appreciation of the overall
interview sample is summarised in Appendix 3 and 4. This sample does not purport to
be representative of the diversity of participation at the Gay Games. Of the 38 people
interviewed, 26 were men and 12 were women. There have been fewer women than
men on the FGG and male managers outnumbered females at the first three Gay
Games. Arrangements were made to see members of the women's advisory
committee of Gay Games V, but the Chair of this committee at the last minute
cancelled the meeting. However, the final report of this committee was secured and
used to inform the thesis. Most of the key women leaders of the early Games, Gay
Games IV and the FGG were interviewed for this history. There has been little racial
diversity within Gay Games management and FGG Directorship and only one African
American and one Indigenous American Indian was interviewed. 75% of the sample
were between 30 - 50 years of age and half were in their 40s. The overall age range
was 25 - 80 years of age. Over 90% of tiiose interviewed had completed a University
^' I have numerous friends with first hand experience of a Gay Games.
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