Scholarships help
athletes attend Gay Games in Chicago

In a boost to gay and lesbian athletes across the globe, the hosts of the 2006 Gay Games VII in Chicago have launched a worldwide campaign to provide scholarships for the event. The scholarship program, in place since 1994, offers financial assistance to qualified athletes, along with help overcoming language barriers and other social obstacles.

Rosanna Flamer-Caldera benefited from the Gay Games scholarship program when she played golf at the 2002 Games in Sydney. "As an Asian lesbian living in Sri Lanka with no tangible income, it was necessary for me to request a scholarship to assist me to participate in the 2002 Gay Games. No one had represented Sri Lanka at the Games before, and I wanted the opportunity to do so," she said.

"Building a team of translators and experts knowledgeable in global cultural differences and the complexities of international travel is a large part of the support we plan to provide for applicants," said Aimee Pine, scholarship coordinator for the Chicago 2006 host committee.

Requests for financial assistance will be accepted until January 1, in advance of the July 15-22 Gay Games. The Gay Games VII is expecting over 12,000 athletes from 100 different nations competing in 30 sports, including softball, swimming, and tennis. An arts festival as well as a series of community-organized social events and parties will be held along with the athletics. Scholarship applications and registration information are available at www.gaygameschicago.org and www.gaygames.org. (Neal Broverman, Advocate.com)