Miss Geena and Rita Menu hold the ceremonial ribbon, to be cut by Chlöe Swarbrick as she officially opens the Rainbow Games. Photo: RNZ
By Samuel Robinson, social media journalist
New Zealand's first rainbow-centric sporting tournament has officially begun following a jam-packed opening ceremony at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.
Over the next four days, 650 participants from 21 countries will be competing across twelve different sports, ranging from badminton to roller derby, bowls, and even ten pin bowling.
Each sport has social and competitive divisions, with categories for people who identify as men, women, and open categories where people of all gender identities can participate.
Rainbow Games event director Tom Leonard said the games were all about making opportunities for rainbow communities to have more positive experiences with sport.
Rainbow Games event director Tom Leonard. Photo: RNZ
"These games are needed to provide a safe and inclusive space so people can find somewhere to find a like-minded community.
"We're offering the opportunity to have a lot of fun on and off the pitch."
Teams and individuals have flown from around the globe to compete in various events, including tennis players who travelled to participate in the country's first ever Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance certified match.
Rainbow Games ambassador, and the first transgender athlete to compete in a FIFA sanctioned tournament, Jaiyah Tauasuesimeamativa Saelua travelled from American Samoa to witness, and compete in this weekend's games.
Ambassador for the Rainbow Games Jaiyah Tauasuesimeamativa Saelua. Photo: RNZ
Saelua, whose story was told in the 2014 documentary Next Goal Wins and subsequent film adaptation by New Zealand director Taika Waititi, said that the games were a "huge opportunity" for the SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics) community in the pacific region.
"I think the biggest thing for the LGBTQI+ in the region is the opportunity to play, especially at the competitive level.
"A lot of times we're limited to recreational sports and that's the bulk of our involvement."
The event was protested by a lone man with a megaphone, speaking against what he claimed was a "perverted agenda".
But supporters, including drag queens Anita Wigl'it and Kita Mean, had a tense conversation with the protestor who left shortly after.
Participants gather outside the Viaduct Events Centre for the Rainbow Games 2024 opening ceremony. Photo: RNZ
The ceremony commenced with a powhiri from representatives of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, who welcomed manuhiri, including Auckland City councillor Richard Hills and Auckland Central MP and Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.
After a speech encouraging queer visibility, Swarbrick cut the ceremonial rainbow ribbon, held by drag queens Rita Menu and Miss Geena, and officially declared the games open.
Speaking to RNZ, Swarbrick described the events as "the Olympics for the queers."
"Absolutely everybody deserves good positive physical and mental health… and sport gives us the opportunity to do that."
She said attempts to suppress symbols of the rainbow communities seemed to come from a misunderstanding their goals.
"What we want to do is merely to exist… Everybody deserves the opportunity to participate in society and we are all the better for it when we get to be our full selves," she said.
The opening ceremony included performances from vogue house Candee Collective, Rupaul's Drag Race: Down Under alumni Kita Mean and Anita Wigl'it, and Anika Moa.
Attendees dance as Anika Moa plays her classic hit 'Dreams in my head'. Photo: RNZ
Rainbow Games co-chair Brad Christensen had one piece of advice for game participants; "Be loud, be proud, be you, and play at full volume."