Blue Diamond Society hosted South Asia’s first LGBTI sports festival in Kathmandu, Nepal from October 12-14, 2012. Nepal Sports Foundation managed the event. The Australian Government, American Embassy, and the Norwegian Embassy provided major funding. The sports festival was held in the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium complex. Ten indoor and outdoor events in athletics, football, volleyball, karate, kabaddi, basketball, long jump, and javelin throw were featured.
Around 570 athletes took part in the festival. A four kilometer fun race was also held starting from New Road Gate and ending at the Stadium in which over 200 participants from the LGBTI community, straight allies, and expatriates participated.
The Australian and American ambassadors and the Norwegian Deputy Chief of Mission inaugurated the event along with the Minister of Culture and the Member Secretary of the National Sports Council. BDS Executive Director Sunil Babu Pant gave a rousing welcome speech. Similarly, the American diving superstar Greg Louganis who won four gold medals in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics was the chief guest for the event. Louganis, who is openly gay and HIV positive, attended the festial accompanied by his partner Johnny Chiallo.
Different games helped LGBTI athletes from all over the country and South Asian countries demonstrate their athletic prowess and to create awareness about the challenges facing LGBTI people through the medium of sports. The engagement of the LGBTI community in mainstream sports and the extensive media coverage, enabling a collaborative approach with the different levels including the LGBTI community in the existing sports provision, it followed the concepts on the opening up and showing their presence and visibility in the community.
The program improved the physical/emotional health and social well being of the LGBTI community as no appropriate sports venues and opportunities exist for LGBTI people.
The visible engagement of the LGBTI community engaging in sports have created opportunities that have previously been unavailable. Inclusivity was at the heart of the event, which reflected by the involvement of diverse participants. This open display of community integration is needed to further reduce the stigma aimed at the LGBTI community.