Team Sydney prepares for Mardi Gras smorgasbord of sport

TEAM Sydney is gearing up for a big Mardi Gras over the coming months after their AGM saw the addition of new faces to its board as the organisation enters a period of rejuvenation.

The AGM for Sydney’s leading group of LGBTI sports was held on November 20 at ACON’s Surry Hills headquarters and saw a number of members from the Sports Council elected onto the board, following a plea by Team Sydney president Ian Wilby at an earlier Sports Council meeting where he said “Team Sydney is the Sports Council and that the Sports Council is Team Sydney”.

Wilby and long-serving Team Sydney board member Geoffrey Radford will now slowly make way for the new guard, whom they hope will foster Team Sydney’s aims of sports links and LGBTI community advocacy with a more tech-savvy focus.

“The board has been invigorated by enthusiastic ‘new blood’ and there is an exciting future ahead,” Wilby said.

“Geoffrey Radford and I will be undertaking a mentoring role with the new board, giving each person sufficient time to slide into their new responsibilities.

“As soon as practicable, Geoffrey and I will stand down; we are both past our ‘use-by date’ and we believe we will leave the corporation in good hands.”

As the board moves into its transition period, Team Sydney will play a large part in the 2014 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season.

The summer of sport will get going when they host the Rainbow Run at Sydney Park on February 8 from 10am. Open to anyone from the community, the family-friendly event will help raise

funds for Equal Love initiatives fighting for marriage equality.

A regular occurrence at Mardi Gras Fair Day, Team Sydney will again be holding a Sports Village of stalls comprised the LGBTI community’s sporting groups. 20 clubs and organisations have already booked and a few spots remain for groups interested in promoting their activities on the day.

Taking place at Victoria Park, Camperdown, on Sunday February 9, Fair Day activities will also see the return of the tug o’ war challenge as Team Sydney organisations take on the strongest from the community.

On the same day and only a few suburbs away at Alfred Park, Team Sydney’s City Hoops: In The Park 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will make a return with prizes to be given for different categories from winning teams to best dressed, most vocal, best looking and more.

INFO: Visit Team Sydney’s website or YouTube page for further information.