Sun 4 Jul 2010 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Ron Judd and two members of the choral team The countdown has begun for the Kiwis who will join around 10,000 people from more than 70 countries at Gay Games Cologne 2010. The world's biggest sports and cultural festival will take over the German city from 31 July to 7 August. Some members of the New Zealand contingent are already making their way to Germany, combining the games with holidays at the height of the European summer. Others gathered for a meet up in Auckland last night. Among them was the founder of the Team Auckland Master Swimmers Ron Judd, who has won medals in the past. "I hope to come back with some medals really. As many as I can." The fly specialist says winning medals makes all the hard work worthwhile, as masters swimming is about 'stickability'. "Sticking at it – the longer you stick at the more likely you are to get medals actually. People who don't have stickability tend to drop off because they don't exercise. But if you keep going, over the years, you can outstrip your competitors." Another swimmer at the meet-up was Kevin Hudson, who says he is going purely for himself and winning anything would simply be the icing on the cake. "Because I figured, I didn't want to be 60 and doing my first Gay Games. So I'm 55 and doing my first Gay Games." The opening ceremony of the Gay Games will feature a performance by 80s and 90s pop star Taylor Dayne, who will perform a track especially written for the games Facing a Miracle.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 4th July 2010 - 12:43pm