The last-minute cancellation of the first Proud to Play sporting event has not dampened the spirits of the sporting festival's organisers, according to spokesperson Craig Watson. Speaking at the start of this evening's Pride Tennis Tournament: Love All at the inner-city Auckland Pompalier Lawn Tennis Club, Watson says the waterfront Dragon Boat racing was cancelled due to there being only two boats entered, one of which was entered by the Proud to Play organisers themselves. "The Auckland Dragon Boat Association advised us it was not worth proceeding with just two boats," he says. However, as a sizzlingly hot day begins to cool down and the Pompalier courts are shaded from the baking sun around 25 competitors are about to play a series of singles and doubles tennis matches for a trophy and other prizes. "Its club tennis but of an extremely high standard," Watson says. Around thirty spectators have settled in to watch play which will continue until around 10 o'clock this evening. Tomorrow sees Proud to Play's Badminton and Roller Derby get under way at the West Auckland Trusts Arena and there'll be an ocean swim at Mission Bay. A mid-afternoon opening ceremony at Silo Park will formally kick off the Proud to Play festival which continues in tandem with the Auckland Pride Festival, featuring a variety of sports fixtures until next Saturday.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 12th February 2016 - 6:10pm