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From: rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Gay Games II & South African participation
Message-ID: <1690@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 11:32:50 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncca.1690
Posted: Mon Feb 10 11:32:50 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 20:49:32 EST
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 31

I've read that despite an original assurance that South African players
would not be invited (because of the all-white makeup of South African
teams and the longstanding international boycott in athletics), the
organizers of Gay Games II have accepted an all-white South African
contingent to the Games.  Because of this, Scotland has just announced
it would boycott the Games.  Another nation (Canada? Netherlands?) has
already pulled out.

Does anybody out in the Bay area know what kinds of pressure/protest
are being brought to bear on the organizers, and if they're likely to
revoke South Africa's invitation?

I ask because I'm thinking about attending the games, and maybe even
participating in squash racquets (I don't remember whether the Bay
area, in exception to the rest of the West, has squash courts).

I don't think everyone should cancel their participation without waiting
a decent interval to see if the decision can be revoked (the Games are
scheduled for this summer).  Mainstream athletics has many other
international sporting events besides the Olympics.  Gay Games is the
only international gay sporting event I know of, and the only national
one besides the Gay Rodeo (though gay outdoors clubs now have an
international organization, IGLOO).  On the other hand, athletic
apartheid practiced by gay South Africans is inexcusable, however
difficult the situation of even white gays may be in South Africa.
If the Gay Games II organizers don't revoke their decision, I think
everyone should boycott the Games.  I will.


						Regards,
						Ron Rizzo