Louganis boost to South Asia's first LGBTI games

Nepal is set to host South Asia's first sports festival exclusively for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and intersexes -LGBTI in short-a three-day event which will kick start this Friday. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Oct 10, 2012, 23:52:36 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal is set to host South Asia's first sports festival exclusively for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and intersexes -LGBTI in short-a three-day event which will kick start this Friday.

But more than the 350 athletes from Nepal and 150 others expected from 17 countries, the main attraction of the festival would be Olympic legend Gregory Efthimios Louganis or Greg Louganis to fans worldwide.

The US diving champion, who won double gold medals in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, has confirmed his attendance as guest of honour for the event to be hosted in Kathmandu.

Louganis's career has been an inspiration for sportspersons worldwide and is bound to boost those taking part in the festival. His presence will also aid the fight for LGBTI rights in Nepal, feels organizer Blue Diamond Society.

One of the most enduring images of the 1988 Seoul Olympics was Louganis's accident during preliminary rounds of the springboard event where he suffered a concussion after hitting the board.

Despite worries about whether he would be able to continue, he came back for the final round and won the event. It was later revealed that he was diagnosed as HIV positive six months prior to the Olympics.

Louganis disclosed that he was gay in 1994 and co-wrote his autobiography 'Breaking the Surface' a year later where he detailed his early years of domestic abuse, rape and depression.

The athlete has dabbled in films and television besides coaching. He was mentor to the US diving team in the London Olympics.

More importantly Louganis has been a role model for spreading HIV awareness and his work to defend civil liberties of LGBTI community and those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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