President Barack Obama on Saturday made a video appearance to help open the 2014 Gay Games 9.
Thousands of athletes and fans converged Saturday on Cleveland for the games’ opening ceremonies held at The Q.
Cleveland and nearby Akron will over the next week play host to the sports and cultural festival.
Appearing on The Q’s large screen, Obama welcomed the athletes and fans who traveled from around the world to celebrate diversity through sport.
“I know some of you have come from places where it requires courage, even defiance, to come out – sometimes at great personal risk,” Obama said. “You should know that the United States stands with you and for your human rights – just as our athletes stand with you on the field at these Games. After all, the very idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, or who you love – you can make it if you try. That’s who we are and that’s who we should continually strive to be.”
“We’re also a country that loves competition, so let’s get these games underway,” he added. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)
by On Top Magazine Staff
Source – On Top Magazine
