Registrations for the Asia Pacific Outgames hit the 1000 mark through the New Year and Christmas period, exceeding that of the 1st North American Outgames staged in Calgary, Canada last year.

The North American event was another regional festival, similar to the Melbourne games. The next larger scale World Outgames will be staged in Copenhagen in July 2009.

The majority of sporting participants are, as expected, from Victoria and NSW followed by Queensland, New Zealand, the rest of Australian states and territories, and Asia-Pacific countries including India, Philippines and Singapore. There has also been plenty of interest from Europe, Canada and the USA.

Outgames co-president Peter Sagar hoped it spurred would-be participants to get a move on.

 “It sends out a very strong message to those that still have not registered to get in quick before it’s too late,” he said.

Registrations will close on January 15 in order to allow host sports clubs and the Rainbow Conference organisers to consolidate their programs.

Anyone keen to watch any of the Outgames action can purchase a Spectator Pass online. For $20 you will receive priority access to purchase tickets to the Opening Celebration, free access and priority seating to many of the sport activities and VIP access to special events.

Details: www.midsumma.org.au


Ace Girls triumph
Victorian tennis group, the Ace Girls had a triumphant tournament in Mansfield in early January. Fourteen players competed in the Open, A, B and C grades with great success. Ace Girls coach Tamara Jungwirth says there was “lots of fun and team spirit along the way”. The top results were as follows:
Open division Women's Singles – Georgia Bushell, quarter finalist
A grade Women's Singles – Tamara Jungwirth, winner
A grade Women's Doubles – Tamara Jungwirth and Natasha Marquez, winners
A grade Mixed Doubles – Scott Anscombe and Natasha Marquez, winners
A grade Mixed Doubles – Daniel Witthaus and Tamara Jungwirth, runners-up
B grade Men's Singles – Daniel Witthaus, winner
B grade Men's Doubles – Daniel Witthaus and Scott Anscombe, winners
C grade Women's Singles – Rema O'Neill, runners-up
C grade Women's Doubles – Demetra Giannakopoulos and Gina Moore, runners-up

Wanted: Hockey men
The Bentstix men’s GLBTI hockey club is on the lookout for new players to join the club for its winter competition. The club will be hosting the hockey tournament for this year’s inaugural Outgames but needs players to continue beyond the summer months.
Interested? Call Andrew Phillips on 0403 839 317.

by CATHY ANDERSON