Members of Team Ireland for the Gay Games in Paris next August met with An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Katherine Zappone and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin today.

Posing for photographs at Government Buildings alongside the Taoiseach, team and ministers was Co-chair of the Gay Games, Manuel Picaud, who travelled from Paris to Dublin for the occasion.

“This is something we see as very worthy of support because any team that represents Ireland, whether it’s domestically or whether it’s internationally, we want to row in behind,” said Minister Griffin.

“What Team Ireland are doing here is they’re acting as fantastic ambassadors.”

According to the minister, a new sports policy to be published by the Department of Tourism and Sport will be inclusive of LGBT+ people.

“It will be addressing… how we can increase participation levels and make everybody feel welcome in the sport that they want to pursue,” Griffin said.

Co-chair of the Gay Games Manuel Picaud spoke about what people can expect at the Gay Games in Paris in August:

“We expect 12,000 people at the Gay Games in Paris, you don’t need to be good, you don’t need to be gay, you just need to be 18 to participate so you can be an amateur or you can be a professional but it doesn’t matter what is important is to do sport together, to respect each other and to play for equality, that’s the goal of the gay games.”

Cyclist Philipa Ryder spoke about the significance of the representing Ireland as being part of the team competing in the Gay Games.

“Putting on the Irish jersey for the first time ever in my life is just such an honour and a thrill to represent my country in a sporting event which at age 57 I never thought I would represent my country at my age so it’s just a thrill.”

Gay Games takes place in Paris this August, find out how you can support Team Ireland by visiting paris2018.com