The sovereign state of Nepal will host a sports event
specifically for gay and lesbian participants, it was announced
this week.
According to The Blue Diamond Society - Nepal's gay rights group -
the two-week event will take place in September across various
sports venues throughout Kathmandu.
It is thought to be the first such event in Asia and will feature
track and field, volleyball, football martial arts and
tennis.
"Renowned and respected Nepali athletes will support as coaches
and referees for the programme," said organiser Sunil Pant, the
country's only openly gay MP said in a statement.
"The aims for organising the Blue Diamond National Sport
Competition 2012 are to mainstream LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people) into the larger society, promote healthy
lifestyles, encourage physical fitness, and promote health mentally
and spiritually," Pant told The Telegraph.
Nepal is estimated to have a population of 350,000 gays and
lesbians.
