by Rex Wockner
International News
More than 5,500 people took part in the second GLBT World Outgames July 25 to Aug. 2 in Copenhagen.
The games, a rival to the Gay Games, came into existence in 2006 when the Gay Games organization had a falling-out with its local organizers in Montreal, who responded by launching a duplicate international games.
Opening celebrations took place July 25 outside Copenhagen Town Hall, which, in 1989, was the site of the world's first legal same-sex registered-partnership ceremonies.
Athletes came from more than 90 countries, and the week's events also included a human rights conference and art and culture programs.
The night of the opening ceremonies, three participants were punched and kicked near Town Hall by two men who screamed "homo pig" at them.
The suspects were captured and taken into custody for the duration of the games. The victims were treated and released at a hospital.
Three days later, a U.S. runner participating in the games, Dean Koga of Seattle, was injured when a man threw powerful fireworks – which some reports called "bombs" – onto the track at Osterbro Stadium.
The alleged perpetrator was taken into custody by police, who reportedly took half an hour to arrive, and charged with committing a hate crime.
OutSports.com said Koga, 58, spent hours in surgery having "a big chunk of plastic" removed from his right hand.
But he was back on the track the following day and won a gold medal in his age group in the men's 200 meters.
