GAY GAMES VI OFFICIAL GUIDE - November 2002

CHAMPION MENTORS

Gene and John will celebrate participation in their fourth Gay Games in November. Their love affair with the Gay Games started in Vancouver in 1990, almost forty years after their own relationship began in the (northern) spring of 1953, in Greenwich Village, New York City.

In Vancouver they were inspired by the incredible camaraderie and the healthy competition. Gene says this first taste of Gay Games magic was "transformational", as it was the first time that he had been totally involved in a gay environment.

Soon after John took up running in his 40s Gene joined him and also became a dedicated runner. As they travelled the world together they ran together. John completed his first New York City Marathon in 1972 and ran many more races with Gene from the 70s to the 90s. Recently John has taken up masters swimming while Gene maintains running as his focus.

Although the pair have lived and worked in New York since they first met almost 50 years ago, Sydney is now their second home. Several years ago they decided to spend the North American winter months in Sydney. John and Gene are long time members of the New York and Sydney Frontrunners and John is a member of Team New York Aquatics.

They are taking participation and inclusion to new levels this year when they launch the Gene & John Rainbow Community Foundation in Sydney just before Gay Games VI. The couple have established the foundation to provide athletic opportunities for gay men and lesbians through scholarships and to support the endeavours of promising gay and lesbian athletes. Gene and John say: "The Foundation is our way of giving back to the community that has been so supportive and inspiring to us".