The Federation of Gay Games, Then and Now

Dr. Tom Waddell, a 1968 Olympic decathlete, dreamed of a sporting event based on the philosophy that "doing one's personal best should be the paramount goal in any athletic endeavor."

In 1980 he led a group in conceiving the event now known as the Gay Games. San Francisco Arts & Athletics (SFAA) was incorporated and supervised the logistics of both Gay Games I and II. Tom Waddell lost his battle with AIDS in July 1987, less than a year after Gay Games II, but his legacy continues. The SFAA board of directors, which included Tom's widow Sara Waddell Lewinstein, took steps to enlarge its membership beyond the Bay Area and in 1989 changed its name to the Federation of Gay Games.

The Federation of Gay Games has  perpetuated the quadrennial Gay Games and safeguards its founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best. Following the original Gay Games in San Francisco the Gay Games have been hosted by Vancouver BC (1990), New York City (1994), Amsterdam (1998) and Sydney Australia (2002).  Originally a board comprised solely of individual directors, the Federation today is an "organization comprised of organizations": almost 80 percent of the board is comprised of the voting delegates from director organizations.

The Federation administers funds on behalf of estates with the aim of assisting a limited number of individuals to attend each Gay Games. A "Gay Games Ambassadors" program was begun in 2002 whereby prominent athletes, artists and other individuals publicize the Gay Games.

You can help build the the Gay Games archives.  Send in your favorite Gay Games story! Send your stories and pictures documenting your experiences in Sydney, Amsterdam, New York, Vancouver and San Francisco to info@gaygames.org. 

 The Tom Waddell Award —  The Tom Waddell Award for Outstanding Gay Games Participation is presented by the Federation of Gay Games every four years to individuals who have demonstrated a history of outstanding service in the arts, athletics, or volunteerism. Criteria include: inspiring pride through leadership qualities; devoting energy to the success of the Gay Games without vainglory; embodying the standards of commitment, selflessness and love of humanity as set by the late Dr. Tom Waddell.
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