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The First Gay Games

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Manage episode 502833832 series 2921094
Content provided by The Retrospectors. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Retrospectors or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Over 1,300 athletes from 12 countries gathered at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco for the first-ever Gay Games, on 28th August, 1982.

Intended as the “Gay Olympics,” the event had to change its name at the last minute after the US Olympic Committee sued. But the opening ceremony was electric, with none other than Tina Turner performing at a pivotal moment in her career - a bold and unprecedented move for a superstar at a gay event in the early ‘80s.

The brainchild of Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell, the Games were intended to show that you could be openly gay and still achieve greatness - even in a city and community plagued by HIV. Waddell prioritized inclusion over nationalism, having athletes march by city instead of country, and selected a Black gay man and cancer survivor, Richard Hunter, to light the cauldron - symbolizing unity and resilience.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly marvel at the diversity of the opening parade; reveal the child that was conceived as a direct result of the event; and consider why the Games have never been televised…

Further Reading:

• ‘Tom Waddell, the amazing man behind Gay Games’ (ESPN, 2014): https://www.espn.com/story/_/id/11305954/tom-waddell-amazing-man-gay-games

• ‘The Gay Games are still relevant. Here’s why’ (The Conversation, 2018): https://theconversation.com/the-gay-games-are-still-relevant-heres-why-101104

• ‘Remembering the first Gay Games’ (BBC World Service, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVD0Ww3qmo

Love the show? Support us!

Join 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAY…

… Plus, get weekly bonus bits, and unlock over 100 bits of extra content.

Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

1154 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 502833832 series 2921094
Content provided by The Retrospectors. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Retrospectors or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Over 1,300 athletes from 12 countries gathered at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco for the first-ever Gay Games, on 28th August, 1982.

Intended as the “Gay Olympics,” the event had to change its name at the last minute after the US Olympic Committee sued. But the opening ceremony was electric, with none other than Tina Turner performing at a pivotal moment in her career - a bold and unprecedented move for a superstar at a gay event in the early ‘80s.

The brainchild of Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell, the Games were intended to show that you could be openly gay and still achieve greatness - even in a city and community plagued by HIV. Waddell prioritized inclusion over nationalism, having athletes march by city instead of country, and selected a Black gay man and cancer survivor, Richard Hunter, to light the cauldron - symbolizing unity and resilience.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly marvel at the diversity of the opening parade; reveal the child that was conceived as a direct result of the event; and consider why the Games have never been televised…

Further Reading:

• ‘Tom Waddell, the amazing man behind Gay Games’ (ESPN, 2014): https://www.espn.com/story/_/id/11305954/tom-waddell-amazing-man-gay-games

• ‘The Gay Games are still relevant. Here’s why’ (The Conversation, 2018): https://theconversation.com/the-gay-games-are-still-relevant-heres-why-101104

• ‘Remembering the first Gay Games’ (BBC World Service, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVD0Ww3qmo

Love the show? Support us!

Join 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAY…

… Plus, get weekly bonus bits, and unlock over 100 bits of extra content.

Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

1154 episodes

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