Press release: 19/03/2018

Contact : Thomas Mareau, Press Responsable, presse@paris2018.com

Ryan ATKIN

New Paris 2018 Ambassador

Ryan Atkin is a professional football referee operating in the National League and English Football League with aspirations to officiate in the Premier League in the future. Ryan has recently agreed to be a Paris 2018 Ambassador. The entire Paris 2018 team is delighted that Ryan Atkin is joining the team to promote the values ??of tolerance and respect.

For Ryan, “Sport has no borders and is a universal language, just like football!  Beyond language, sport is a means of communication that is also free from cultural barriers. The last Olympics in South Korea have shown that we are all unique, with our beliefs and opinions, and that sport brings unity and a shared pride for everyone.” Paris 2018 – Gay Games 10 is proud of their most recent Ambassador.

Mr. Atkin shows us all that homosexuality, alone, does not define an individual.

Although homophobia is still a problem, “The game changes if attitudes change,” adds Ryan. Honored to be a Paris 2018 Ambassador, Ryan is convinced that the Gay Games is an important channel for driving change for LGBT+ people in sport. Through his position as referee with authority and respect for the rules, Ryan intends to inspire participants with his principle, “ultimately, being gay in football should not cause fear.”

Ryan Atkin came out publicly in August, 2017, enabling discussion about LGBT+ people in football and professional sport, and encouraging other top-level LGBT+ athletes to follow in his footsteps.

ABOUT PARIS 2018 – GAY GAMES 10

The 10th Gay Games will be held in Paris from 4 to 12 August 2018. Created in 1982 and organised every 4 years, the Gay Games are the largest sporting and cultural event open to anyone above the age of 18, regardless of their identity, gender, or sexual orientation, regardless of ethnic origin, or disability, but also with no selection process whatsoever. The next Gay Games will bring together up to 15,000 participants and 300,000 spectators around three key principles: participation, inclusion, and personal best, and around 36 sports, 14 cultural events, and a series of conferences and festivities.