Tutu gives his blessing to the gay games bid

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has expressed his enthusiastic support for the bid to bring the quadrennial Gay Games to Johannesburg in 2010. In a letter addressed to the Co-Chairs of the Gay Games VIII Johannesburg 2010 Bid Committee, the former Archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace Prize winner has again lent his name to assist in securing the equal rights of lesbian and gay people within society.

"The vision of the Gay Games: Inclusion, Participation and Personal Best, are values South Africans understand and celebrate," the letter from The Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town reads. "We are learning that our differences are in fact enriching and that our strength lies in inclusion rather than exclusion. Hosting the Games would reinforce these values and would be an important message to convey to our sisters and brothers in other parts of our continent", Archbishop Tutu wrote.

In his letter to the Gay Games VIII Johannesburg 2010 Bid Committee, Archbishop Tutu concludes by saying: "Our democracy is young and vibrant. I believe we can offer a unique environment for this event that will greatly enhance the enjoyment of our visitors and will strengthen our economy. I am confident that South Africa and Johannesburg in particular will be an outstanding venue for the Games and the participants are assured of a very warm welcome. God bless you".

South African Olympic women's beach volleyball player Leigh-Ann Naidoo has also come out in support of the Gay Games bid: "Competing in Athens representing South Africa, and the African continent at large, was a very proud moment in my life. Being able to do so as an openly gay athlete made that moment even more special, as it helped to raise awareness and recognition of gay Africans, and their potential for success and pride. A Gay Games in Johannesburg would help to consolidate the hard-earned victories for gay rights in South Africa and begin opening the possibility for such victories in other parts of the continent. I strongly support the Johannesburg bid in its commitment to sport and to activism," she said.