Peter Sagar(March 2011)

In a recently released podcast, recorded at the Wellington Town Hall, the president of GLIER Asia Pacific, Peter Sagar, discussed the significance of the Asia Pacific Outgames and its role in advocating for human rights, sports, and culture. This conference is highlighted as a dynamic platform where these three pillars come together, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment, fair play, and the dignity of all individuals, particularly those from the gay and lesbian community.

The interview, conducted by Jim Whitman, explores Sagar's perspective on how the principles of sportsmanship—such as equality and fair play—can and should be extended to the broader society, advocating for fairness and equality in the realm of human rights. Sagar emphasizes the holistic representation of human beings embodied at the games, which promotes the unity of mind, body, and spirit through active participation.

The conversation delved into the progression from the inaugural Asia Pacific Outgames held in Melbourne in 2008, to the current conference in Wellington, and considered future events. Sagar expressed the need to maintain momentum in human rights discussions, measure progress, and carry these important dialogues forward. The overarching goal is to sustain engagement and scrutiny of human rights advancements within the region.

Sagar also addressed the logistical and community aspects of these events. Having visited Wellington previously as part of the preparations for the 2011 games, Sagar voiced pleasure in witnessing the realization of an idea into a successful event. The experience of seeing conceptual plans transform into tangible outcomes in Wellington was praised as a remarkable feat.

The podcast further discusses GLIER Asia Pacific's strategies for preserving the human rights conversation between games. One solution posited was to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas through the Asia Pacific Outgames website, encouraging volunteers and human rights advocates to contribute. Sagar called for cities and communities to express their interest in hosting future Asia Pacific Outgames, with the aim of holding these events every three to four years. Additionally, if community interest supported it, annual human rights conferences could also be considered.

In the broader scope of aspirational aims, Sagar hints at a desire for more frequent community gatherings around specific topics, particularly human rights, to continue nurturing dialogue and network building. While the Asia Pacific Outgames act as a triennial event, there is openness to additional summits that align with the community's needs and the pace of progress in the region.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Peter Sagar

2010s, asia pacific outgames (2011), human rights, peter sagar, wellington town hall

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