Sports

Springing into action

Gay sports groups get moving with warm weather

Published

14 years ago

March 29, 2012

With any luck, this past week brought the last frost of the season and many of the outdoor LGBT sports teams are in full swing.

The D.C. Front Runners continue to host their Tuesday and Thursday evening runs along with their Saturday and Sunday morning runs. The group meets at 23rd and P streets during the week and at Rock Creek Park on the weekends. The runners also host walks at the same locations on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Recently the Front Runners launched a 10-week series of track workouts which will run through the middle of May. The sessions are on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. and will rotate between McKinley High School and Banneker High School. The rotation can be found atdcfrontrunners.org.

Congratulations to the Washington Renegades RFC members for kicking off their spring season by winning the Gray Ghost Cup tournament in Bel Air, Md., on March 10. Their Blues squad took down North Bay, Lockport, Pax River and the Washington Rugby Club to win the tournament.

This weekend the Blues squad will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to take on Virginia RFC, while the Reds squad will be at home playing the Washington Poltroons. The Renegades schedule can be found at dcrugby.com.

Among the many opportunities offered by the D.C. Strokes Rowing Club is the Learn to Row Program. This season, to accommodate busy schedules, they are holding four different sessions on weekdays and weekends.

The sessions begin at the end of April, assume no previous rowing experience and teach the basics from square one. Rowers who complete the program are invited to join the team as part of their Novice Program. More information is at dcstrokes.org.

The recreational biking series has begun for the Adventuring outdoors group and on Saturday, they will host the Washington & Old Dominion Rail-To-Trail. This will be an easy, paved and mostly flat trail ride to help riders get in shape for more challenging events to come. The route will run from Falls Church to Herndon and back and will be a 29-mile ride. Riders will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the East Falls Church Metro Station in the Kiss & Ride Lot. Bring helmet, fluids and $2. The group will stop for a quick lunch at a Herndon restaurant or you can pack a lunch. Contact Mike at [email protected] for more information.

Adventuring has also rescheduled the Scott’s Run Preserve Hike on Sunday. The hike will be in the range of 2.2 to 3 miles. The hikers will go past the waterfall on Scotts Run and follow along the Potomac River to the Palisades of the Potomac. The group will also stop by the Burling House ruins as they cross through the area. Carpooling to the preserve will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Rossyln Metro Station. Bring fluids, bug spray and a packed lunch plus $2 trip fee and $3 for non-drivers. You can RSVP at meeting.com/Adventuring-Gay-Lesbian-Hiking-Biking.

The Capital Tennis Association coordinates league play throughout the year at both tennis clubs and public courts. Registration for the summer leagues for both singles and doubles will begin in April and the league runs from May to September. There is also the opportunity to sign up for sub spots on the league. More information on the tennis players is atcapital-tennis.org.

The first tee off of the season for the Lambda Links Golf Club will be Sunday. The golfers can be found on the greens every weekend through October 28. Join the group’s mailing list at lambdalinks.org for information on its tee-off locations.

The District of Columbia Aquatics Club will be hosting the 21st annual Swim for Life on July 14. The event is a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS nonprofits as well as local watershed organizations. Swimmers will compete in 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-mile races beginning and ending at Rolph’s Wharf on the Chester River. This is also a great opportunity for anyone training for a triathlon. Details on the event are at swimdcac.org.

Sports

‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay

Games to take place next month in Italy

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2026

Staff reports

(Photo courtesy of Crave HBO Max)

“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.

HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.

The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.

Sports

Capitals to host 10th annual Pride night

Pre-game block party planned at District E

Published

2 weeks ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.

Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.

Egypt

Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’

Game to take place on June 26

Published

2 months ago

December 11, 2025

Michael K. Lavers

(Photo by fifg/Bigstock)

Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.

The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.

Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.

The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”

“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.

The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.

Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’

The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.

“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”

“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”

The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.

Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.