Get Ready For Pride Diversity Games

The event is being organised by Brighton Pride CIC in association with the Brighton LGBT Sports Society (BLAGSS), TransCanSport, Sussex County FA, Sussex Cricket and other organisations .It takes place just a fortnight before the city celebrates its annual Pride event on Saturday August 6.

It’s always fantastic to see an event grow and grow. This year the organizers are expecting up to 1,000 participants and 500 other visitors from all over the UK and Europe to come to Brighton and join in all the action. This will include many an LGBT friendly sports club and individuals all who know how important a part sport can play in their lives.

The chair of BLAGSS, Viv Woodcock-Downey says of the event: “I am really proud that BLAGSS is working with Brighton Pride to organise and deliver the Diversity Games again this year. These games are a great way to get LGBT sports people together for fun and competition. We have so much going on during the weekend. Games, competition, social events and lots of fun. My dream is that these games will continue to grow and will attract more and more LGBT people to Brighton to celebrate sports together.”

Programme of Events

Friday July 22

Registration and Welcome Event from 7pm.

Saturday July 23

There are six sports tournaments taking place during the day at a number of venues. They are as follows.

Falmer Sports Complex at the University of Sussex

Cricket – Quick fire action guaranteed here, none of that playing for five days and it ending in a draw. It’s Kwik Cricket and a round-robin tournament. Registration is from midday with the matches beginning at 1pm.

Football – The seven-a-side tournament with separate male and female teams takes place at the Falmer Sports Complex at the University of Sussex. Registration from 10am and the matches begin at 11am.

Tennis – Registration at 8am and the tournament matches commence at 9am.

Badminton – Registration at 8am and the action begins at 9am

Hollingbury Golf Course

Golf – Registration is from 8.30am and the tournament starts at 9.30am. Two tournaments taking place for the Pride Shield and Rainbow Challenge.

Hove Park

Rugby – The Rugby tournament starts at 10am with matches throughout the day.

The entertainment doesn’t end there, after all it is Brighton and Hove on a Saturday! There will be group meals at popular Brighton and Hove restaurants and a social event due to begin at 9pm.

Sunday July 24th – The Pride Diversity FunDay

What is so great about sport is that it can be deadly serious for some people but fantastic fun for others. On Sunday July 24th the sporting action moves to Preston Park, home of the Brighton Pride festival. There’ll be plenty of events taking place, a fair few that won’t be seen at the Rio Olympics later in the year but it’d be so much fun if they were. Anyone up for the egg ‘n Spoon race? Other events include Petanque Boules, yoga, tennis for beginners, Pilates and walking.

5km Rainbow Run

The Rainbow Run starts at noon and the FunDay is from 1.30pm (registration for teams from 12.30pm, free but fundraising for the Rainbow Fund appreciated) with an award ceremony taking place at 3.30pm.

This was enormously popular last year and it’s back in 2016. The 5km Rainbow Run takes place on the Preston Park run circuit and its tournament partners are Minimal Sportswear , There’s going to be plenty of fun here with runners being given Disco related items to be either carried or worn during the race. Add on a disco themed soundtrack and this is going to be an event you’re never going to forget.

Tracy J Davenport from Minimal Sportswear comments: “Run or walk, we don’t mind, we just want you to get out there and give it a go.”

Competitors are required to meet up at 11.30am by the café in the North end of the park. Probably best to not have too many cups of tea before you start the run at midday. A bespoke medal is presented to all competitors with awards for the first male and female to finish.

The registration deadline is June 30th and cost of entry is £10. Late entries may be considered but cannot be guaranteed.

Additional Information

Another great bonus is that as Brighton goes sports mad for the weekend, there’ll be reduced prices available at squash, badminton and basketball courts so it’s going to be a sporting weekend that no one is ever going to forget.

The event relies on the generosity of volunteers. If you can spare some time to help out over the weekend, all volunteers are given a free T-shirt and ticket to Brighton Pride. They can apply at www.brighton-pride.org/pride-diversity-games-volunteer/

Registration Details

The closing date for tournaments/Rainbow Run is June 30th. It is first come first served for events. More information on the website with links to the registration pages for each event.

Accommodation

The organizers have arranged some excellent accommodation for those wanting to make a weekend of it in Brighton and Hove. More about this at aws.passkey.com.

More information at www.brighton-pride.org/pride-diversity-games/