Women Hockey team at the Gay Games Sydney 2002

Everything started in summer 2000, as at different places in Zurich and Köln the idea was born: We are going to be part of the GayGames in Sydney, where for the first time ever our favorite fieldhockey was part of the competition. We wrote lists of all good friends, slightly known and players from now and then. But it wasn't easy at all, despite personal connections additional to ads in gay and lesbian magazines to finally find a group of 16 interested girls for the team. But at that point we still had a long time till it starts; time to save money or to change mind. Anyway: After some more or less team building tournaments we all met at the 26. of Oktober 2002 with nine of us at Frankfurt airport, to make our way to Sydney. That we left "our men" at home, was the first remark of the competent airline groundstaff, and so we had a glas of champain and cheers to us and all that didn't make it. Interesting days lay in front of us, specially because no one of us had been to one of the 5 Gay Games before; we all didn't know what to expect. The knowledge about having 7 games in 5 days didn't make it any better, but to late; after countless hours of flighing and a 2 days stop over in Singapur, we arrived in Sydney, welcomed by flags all over the city. The Gay Games were everywhere: in the media and on the streets.

Multi-Kulti Team

The same way the city begann to become full of participant, our team became completed : four Australian women, which we contacted from Germany and who knew to play hockey, as well as two Swiss girls, who knew to play handball and lots of other sports on a higher level. Steffi knew them from dancing Salsa in Zürich. But for the opening ceremony we all marched in directly behind the Germany sign and we danced with the other 15 000 athlets into the soccer stadium of Sydney. For our surprise we were already expected by 20 000 Spectators, who celebrated us just for the fun of it. This was an exciting feeling and the show that followed was fabulous and ceremony was like being at the real Olympic Games. Time to start the tournament: at the first day we had the honour to open the tournament at 8.30 in the morning. Our australian hosts let us have the first match against Eastern Hutt Vets from New Zealand. They have been the only team apart from us, that was not from Australia. Vets must have been the short form for veterans, at least they could not do anything against our speed and our enthusiasm about starting to play . 6:0 was the final score. What a start. We were surprised ourself, we played pretty well together and it looked like everyone of us had the position, she liked and was able to play.

euphoric start

Seamed like we had a good basis to work with and we tried to regenerate, as we had another match in the evening at 5 p.m. against Vic Strikers, a team from Victoria, the state around Melbourne. Here again, we had a good start, at half time we lead by 2:0. Not that it was easy in the second half, but as the temperature was kind in the evening, we finished 3:0. At the end of the day, we had a good feeling, regarding our own position and because of watching the others play, we knew what to expect. Nevertheless of being tired in the evenig and having difficulties coming back into the city, we now knew: We had the chance to play for the medals. Maybe that and the point our game at the next day was in the late afternoon made us win against the next aussi team by 6:0. The team name „Girls Own Adventures“ was, as far as we know a hint, that some of them runed a travel agency for women. Despite the clear score it was right till the end a tough match and the "Girls" were pretty upset about the defeat. They promised, we would meet again in the final.

dear diary

It is not possible to name all scorers, I'm sure they will all have done it in their own diary. But one thing is for sure, this is what Irene wrote in her: „Yesterday I started playing fieldhockey and today I scored.“ This could have been a reason to celebrate, but because we all were tired and the average age was 35, we all went to bed early. The next day was terrible: again we had two games. And we are talking about games over full time. In the midday heat, luckily we had a wind blowing at the olympic stadium, we played against Sydney Bentstix. Not as light-footed as before, but we beat them 3:0. Afterwards we had 6 hours time to get ready for the next match and went to the apartment our Aussi Girls had rented for their stay in Sydney. „Lazing around“, was what we did. Eat some calories, watch Melbourne Cup at TV, get a massage, close our eyes where the favorites. Our late night match (8 p.m.) against Funky Divas was hard work, as we had to play most of it without Lisa, Bindo and Steffi. The rest of us played heroic and saved a draw (2:2). As a little reward and because of it being so late, the security locked us in the stadium, the Aussi-girls drove us by car right to our hotel. Yeah.

The last step towards the final presented us the Sydney Cats, a very motivated team with players from all over the world. We lead 4:0 at half time, but lost the second half: in the end 4:2. Puh, we did it. We were more exhausted than happy, because, being honest, at that time we expected reaching the final.

Final instead of party

The night before the final at the one and only exclusive women "butch" party, we meet the before self-appointed final team: The Girls Own Adventures played a draw in a passionated game against Vic Strikers. This point was what the Stricers needed to play the final. Well, we stayed cool, we now didn't have to book another adventure trip against the girls and had fun that night. The music was awful, but we enjoyed the show of different outfits the women wear that night. We don't want to talk about details, but Otti will tell you if you ask her. She wasn't only a brilliant caoch, but also a exact viewer... We all looked good and honest and went to bed, sober and early, now for sure: We were going for Gold.

Final

Our gold decision game was at 3 p.m. It was cute and funny, how the young and the old showed all sorts of vegetative signs off being nervous, like everyone of us knew from important games before. No matter if that was ten or two years ago. So everyone was at least a little nervous. Our opponents for sure as well. We new them from the first day of the tournament and we had respect, but we were sure, we had a good chance to win. Our fears, of having the worst umpires or a big aussie crowd against, us didn't come true, so we didn't have any disadvantage - apart from the goal of the vic being barricaded. We had them under pressure, had lots of possibilities to score, short corners and a penalty stroke in the first half. As usual for that kind of game, we became slightly nervous and a little unrelaxed with the own players, when they missed again. The worst of all: In case of a draw during normal playing time, we had to play extra 15 minutes with only 9 players on the field and again 15 Minuten with just 7 on each side. Funny these Aussis, looked like a nice idea and they had already tried it at a youth tournament. In the end, it would surely bring a decision... But after 7 games, this really wasn't what we were keen on, we fighted and 10 minutes before the end of the regular match time: after lots of short corner combinations of no use, it was a straight shot towards the goal, not really hard, but how ever, it reached the goal. Yeah.

We were pretty relieved, in fact the Strikers had another short corner, but it wouldn't have been o.k., we were the better team that day. And thats why we won rightful. No big score, but more than happy by the end of the game, during the price giving ceremony and hours later. It was a great feeling, because everyone of the team played pretty close to what they were able to play at all. We had the sympathy of our opponents on our side, because we had some aussies playing for us. And for the germans it was kind of cute, how our aussie team mates kept on telling us, that it was an honour to play with us. It is no normal experience for a German, that someone tells you it is an honour to play with Germans. Now it was defenatly party time.

A Hockey party including wine, women and singing. It became folkloric, thanks to a girl and her gitarre. The evening ended for some with a complete new dress of our final opponents. But clothes were the only things changed and that in the public as well.

We like to thank the organisers in Sydney for their 5 years of work for the sport of fieldhockey. You could notice erverywhere in Sydney, that hockey has a meaning in that country. We had the longest trip, but we had perfect conditions at the hockey ground. It would be perfect,if that wouldn't be the only time hockey would be part of the Gay Games. Four years ago in Amsterdam Hockey was no official sport, but a kind of demonstration sport. To demonstrate hockey in the Netehrland, where every child knows hockey, is irritating. In four years in Montreal Hockey is not officially taken part. It is the choice of the host city, which other ten sports they allow apart the normal things. And obviously there are more women playing curling in Canada.... It is not sure, if there will be a continental group of hockey player, who try to make hockey at least a part of the Euro Games every 2 years. And if there are gay and lesbian hockey players of course, who like to participate and find a team to play with. At this point, we had perfect condition and 16 women who just wanted to play hockey.

Charme on Tour. painted gold, if you like.

Stefanie Bürger