The Gay Games
by Todd Richmond
365Gay.com Features Editor

Waddell wanted to replace the obsession to win at all costs with the positive joys of simple participation. These games would require no minimum ability for participation. Winning would be defined as achieving one's personal best. Competition would not stress nationalism or age and men and women would compete on an equal basis. Tom Waddell felt Nationalism was a disunifying concept, so athletes were encouraged to represent their city rather than their country.

A group called San Francisco Arts and Athletics (SFAA) was formed. Two years were spent in the planning of this event which was to be called GAY OLYMPIC GAMES. Opening ceremonies were planned for August 28, 1982 and TINA TURNER agreed to perform.  

Three weeks before the opening, the United States Olympic Committee obtained an injunction in federal court prohibiting the use of the word "Olympic". This despite the fact that the USOC had ignored the use of the ancient word by Special Olympics, Police Olympics, Nude Olympics, Dog Olympics, and many others.

The Games were thrown into chaos and near collapse as the organizing committee scrambled to delete every use of the sacred word in advertising, merchandising, every activity, and every printed page. Somehow, the committee completed the Herculean task and the Opening Ceremonies of the GAY GAMES were held at Kezar Stadium (once the home of the 49er's football team, and now no longer in existence) in San Francisco on schedule. 

The Master of Ceremonies was Armistead Maupin, author of "Tales of the City".

SFAA appealed the Federal Court's injunction and a legal battle raged for two years. It was finally settled by the United States Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in favour of the USOC in March, 1987. 

The still-vindictive USOC arranged to have legal fees of $92,000 levied against Tom Waddell's residence, despite the fact he was fighting for his life against AIDS.

"However, by 1993 the USOC had changed its tune, waiving the legal fees against Tom Waddell's estate and inviting the Federation's Executive Committee to meet with the USOC in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to 'discuss matters of mutual interest.' 

A break through in communication was established and a rapprochement is now in place. 

In 1994, the USOC awarded then out-of-the-closet Olympic Championship diver Greg Louganis its highest award. In Greg's acceptance speech he dedicated the award to Tom Waddell and implored the USOC not to have Olympic volleyball played in homophobic Cobb County, Georgia, as part of the 1996 Olympic Games. It worked.

In 1994 the USOC prominently listed Gay Games IV in its annual handbook under noteworthy events. The Gay Games can and do make a difference!"