Since its debut in 1982, the Gay Games have been a fixture on the LGBT+ sporting calendar and it’s easy to see why: the Games’ all-inclusive ethos is one often missing from organised sporting events.

Their motto is ‘All Equal’ and the Games’ objective is the same now as it was in 1984 – to solicit “the widest possible participation regardless of age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health status or athletic ability.” Every is welcome, say organisers.

Paris 2018 – Gay Games 10 – #GayLgbt https://t.co/b0tCcicLKy #WhatWhenWhereIt #eventi

— WhatWhenWhere EVENTI (@WhatWhenWhereIt) November 2, 2017

This year’s Gay Games will take place in Paris. 15,000 participants from 70 countries are expected, including 100+ from Ireland. That’s where you come in, GCN reader.

Team Ireland is looking for a large team to travel to Paris, across as many of the 40 sports listed below as possible. Anyone over 18 can register – whether to win, to beat your personal best or just to have a bit of craic. Organisers from Team Ireland also assure us that there will also be “lots of opportunity to party.” You don’t need to be an elite athlete to compete and there is no upper age limit.

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Any Irish citizen or anyone living or working in Ireland can sign up to be part of Team and you can also register as an official spectator and support your partner, friend or family member.

As well as registering as an individual participant, you can also join a team in one of the team sports. So if you are a basketballer but don’t have a team, you can sign up as an individual for basketball and the Gay Games organising committee will put you in touch with a team looking for additional players. Presto!

Here are the events at the eight-day long Games:

If you are interested in getting involved with Team Ireland at Gay Games 10, as either a participant or spectator, get in touch with them by emailing here or liking their Facebook page.

The tenth annual Gay Games takes place in Paris from August 4–12, 2018.