2016 Olympic Bid Citites Take Case to IOC

The four cities bidding for the 2016 Olympics took their case directly to the voters on Wednesday, stressing the backing of their government leaders and promising financial security for their multi-billion-dollar projects.

Marion Jones out of Prison, Can’t Keep Her Story Straight

Olympic star sprinter Marion Jones has been released from Federal Prison, where she did time for admitting to lying about whether or not she knowingly took performance enhancing drugs – steroids – for the Olympics.

Seeking the perfect amateur blogging companion! Sports fans apply here!

We're looking for that special someone who can talk sports, hold a witty conversation and has just a little time on their hands.  Looks are unimportant, but a sharp tongue and wicked sense of humor are always a plus! We're open to a casual one-night stand or if things go well, we're always open to a LTR. 

Let's see if there's any chemistry.  If you'd like to try your hand at blogging now is the time to tempt and tease us with your sporting knowledge.  Send an email to sports@planetoutinc.com now!

We've showed you ours,  now it's your turn!

Image courtesy of Getty

I Want My Gay Olympics! Unfortunately.

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Now that autumn has arrived, and the air draws a nice, cool chill into the house at night, I realize that something was missing this summer. I want my Gay Olympics!!

Olympics: Bob Costas discusses Mitcham controversy

(Photo: NBC Sports)
James Hillis for AfterElton.com recently talked to Bob Costas, NBC's Primetime Host for the Beijing Olympics and all-around sports commentator, at length about the controversy surrounding gold medalist Matthew Mitcham and NBC's omission of his openly gay status (the only openly gay athlete at the Games) or his personal coming out story during their broadcast.

Olympics-Clocking Time in Beijing

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Whenever in doubt, I call someone who knows better to set my time. I got lost in it for a minute. Had to go there and see. What of oppression, of degradation? What was happening at the Beijing Games?

So, I called this man I know. My people (okay, I don't have people) called his people because we shared Kentucky Fried Chicken in Santa Ana, California, at the Episcopal Church of The Messiah. (If you are ever looking for a place to be quiet and pray, this is an open and affirming inter-faith congregation) And so I called because I can.

1/100's of a second to win gold. Many more minutes to fly to China. Incredible food, beautiful people, don't be so hard on the emerging. Be a kind birth mother.

Throw your watch away. Don't measure so closely.

Love. Always.

The award for biggest Olympic drama queen goes to...(PART 3)

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Turns out.......the drama queen was RIGHT! 

As reported previously, Sweden's Ara Abrahamian put on a dramatic demonstration of poor sportsmanship in Beijing during the 84 kilogram wrestling medals ceremony. Ara took off his bronze medal and dropped it in the middle of the wrestling mat and walked away from the presentation. Later the International Olympic Committee stripped Abrahamian of his bronze medal title for "violating the spirit of fair play during the medal ceremony."

Abrahamian complained to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) that a penalty in the second round of his Olympic match on Aug. 14 against Andrea Minguzzi from Italy was not assessed until after the round ended. This resulted in Abrahamian’s loss placing him in the bronze medal match instead of the gold medal match.

Olympics: Lesbian, bisexual women, champions out and proud

There are 11, 12 or thirteen lesbian and bisexual women who were out and proud at the Beijing 2008 Games depending on which website you look at.  Six lesbian and bisexual athletes are definitely medalists in gold, silver, and bronze. Natasha Kai took gold for the U.S. in soccer, taking the team to the finals by scoring an overtime goal. She is the first Hawaiian on the U.S. National Team, and she also missed the first training camp because of a 'nasty' breakup with her girlfriend. Linda Bresonik who was outed by tabloids took bronze in soccer for Germany.  Linda Lappin and Vicky Galindo came out in the Advocate last month, and took silver for the U.S. Women's softball team.

So many lesbians, so little time!

But I have my two favorite lesbians. Gro Hammerseng and Katia Nyberg who took gold for Norway in handball. Just look at these two. Teammates, out, in love. Girls who play together, stay together.

Brava to these women who are strong and proud on the field and off!

Matthew Mitcham isn't gay anymore, at least Fox Sports doesn't think so!

First the bad news: In an disappointing about face, the Australian branch of Fox Sports has removed all references of Matthew Mitcham being gay from it's original posting.  Where it originally called Mitcham "openly homosexual", the copy now refers to him simply as "The 20-year-old Sydney diver".  See the screen capture after the jump!

Let Fox Sports know how you feel! Include your comments below!

Now the good news: We've got two great videos of Matthew!  The first is him with his mother and partner Lachlan after the medal ceremony and for those of you who missed his incredible performance, check out the video of all 6 of his dives after the jump. 

Olympics: Closing the light of the Games, a farewell to Beijing

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There are few in the world with consummate skill like you
There are none among us with too little to do like me;
After we part, at the bamboo window on nights of wind and snow,
In the light and shadow of a solitary lantern I shall play over the Games of Wu.

-Du Mu, Tang Dynasty, 803-852