Asia’s First Gay Games Is the Antidote to Olympic Cynicism
Win or lose, the global event is something for athletes and allies to feel good about.
A same-sex couple hold hands during an event to raise awareness of gay rights in Hong Kong on May 25, 2019.
Photographer: PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty
With next month’s Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games mired in controversy, it can be hard to remember the genuine rush of excitement and pride that can come with a two-week, global lollapalooza of sport.
Next year’s Gay Games, due to take place in Hong Kong, offers an antidote to the commercialization and politicization of the Olympics — at least, in theory. It’s the first time since its 1982 inception that an Asian country will host the event, a boon for LGBTQ communities in a region where gay rights lag the West.