15 July 2016 | by Ian Howley

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GMFA / RVT GAY SPORTS DAY!

If you didn’t make Team GB for the Rio Olympics, there’s no need to despair, all are welcome to take part in the GMFA/RVT Sports Day on August Bank Holiday Monday. 2016 celebrates this legendary event’s 10^th consecutive year, which takes place, come rain or shine, in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, behind the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (and, when the weather is truly appalling, also within the RVT itself). The big day this year is Monday 29^th August.

The Gay Sports Day is the ultimate sporting event, especially when it comes to breaking down barriers in the community. All are welcome to take part in Gay Sports Day, whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, non-binary or even heterosexual. It doesn’t matter if you are young, young at heart, thin, “fulsome”, fabulously flamboyant or a retiring wallflower secretly bursting to blossom – our athletes tick every box.

Being the 10^th annual Sports Day means there will be some extra fun surprises, alongside the hugely popular staple events such as the 50 metre mince, drag relay, tug o’ war, egg and spoon race and our favourite – the handbag toss – through all events teams will be guided by Timberlina with her unwilting inimitable panache, whatever the weather.

Team registration is now open. This year up to 21 teams (five people per team) will be able to compete, but be quick. The gang at GMFA are already working their fingers to the bone, entering details of people who have already expressed interest. Remember, it’s all for three fantastic causes: raising funds for GMFA, Vauxhall City Farm and Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

Matthew Hodson of GMFA said, “Gay Sports Day is one of the highlights of the year. After two damp years we’re due some blazing sunshine this year but, even if it rains, we always manage to have a great time. So bring your brollies or bring you sunscreen (or, this being England, you may need to bring both) just be sure to register your team if you want to take part.

“As it’s the 10^th of the GMFA Sports Days, we want it to be even bigger, bolder and more outrageous than before. Sports Day raises funds for GMFA’s sexual health information and for FS magazine, which receive no Government funding. The money that we raise at Sports Day helps to ensure that gay and bisexual men have access to the frank information that they need about HIV and sexual health.”

Timberlina will be very ably assisted as ever by two of sports broadcasting's leading lights – Rugby World Cup commentator Nick Heath and TalkSPORT's Bob Ballard.

Check out the GMFA website for details, as well as videos and photos from previous years’ events: www.gmfa.org.uk/sportsday. More frolics can be seen at www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gmfa+sports+day . “Like” the Sports Day Facebook page www.facebook.com/GaySportsDay/ and follow them on Twitter @GaySportsDay for updates.

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For further information, please contact:

Michael Flaherty

Community Engagement Office

GMFA

[email protected]

Tel: 020 3463 2482

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