Before getting involved as a board member of OUTSport Toronto, I was fortunate to attend a presentation by Gay Games Cleveland at OST Scrum 2013 last fall.
At the time, as president of the Toronto Gay Sailing Club, I became very enthusiastic about the possibility of our newly founded club competing at the international level in an LGBT Sporting Event.
Fast forward to last week and our sailing club had teams representing Toronto in both the competitive and the recreational division: we brought home the Bronze in the Tartan 10 Division.
As I joined the Team Toronto committee, a program of OUTSport Toronto, I got energized leading up to GG9: uniforms where designed, ordered and eventually delivered!Â
Marching in as a unified Team Toronto in the Opening Ceremonies at GG9Cleveland brought joy to my heart and I was extremely proud of all our athletes, delegates and volunteers who brought Team Toronto together.
But more than pride rose to the top: our athletes performed and brought home a fantastic number of medals, in the estimate of over 130, at least 30 Gold (we have not received the official count from GG9Cleveland as of now).
Throughout the week, OUTSport Toronto was the leader of the Canadian delegation, first by organizing Team Toronto, the Canada Rocks Cleveland Cocktail Party in association with Team Ottawa, and setting up the Team Canada Winners’ Circle, publishing medal results daily as they were made available to us.
This sharing of information on social medias heightened the level of excitements for all participants, not only from Team Toronto, but all across Canada, which lead to the creation of a virtual Team Canada, which was discussed at the Canadian Sports Leaders Brunch hosted by OUTSport Toronto early in the week at GG9Cleveland.
As our member associations continue to participate in sporting events internationally, OUTSport Toronto will continue to remain a strong leader across Canada, supporting not only our Team Toronto abroad, but all Canadian LGBT athletes.
Next week, Muddy York Rugby RFC will be competing at the Bingham Cup 2014 in Sydney, Australia, an international LGBT rugby competition, representing both Team Toronto and Team Canada.
OUTSport Toronto, Team Toronto and Team Canada LGBT wishes them the greatest successes and if your sport’s league is planning to attend or host a provincial, national or international LGBT tournament, be sure to let me know!
View Team Canada at GG9 Winners’ Circle Results
Team Toronto on Facebook | Team Toronto Website
Team Canada on Facebook | Team Canada on Twitter
OUTSport Toronto on Facebook | OUTSport Toronto on Twitter
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Yanick Landry
Director of Membership and Members’ Services
OUTSport Toronto
