The sanctioning brought medical and liability coverage as well as experienced, competent officials. But it implied a connection to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), which 19 days before the Opening Ceremonies had won a court injunction yanking the word "Olympic" from the original title of "Gay Olympic Games."
Top officials were enlisted, most notably Andy Foley, high school coach of Calvin Malone, who wrestled in later Gay Games. Robin Chambers was a well known and respected NorCal wrestling tournament pairing official who proved to be a phenomenal asset.
An inspiring opening address was delivered by Allen Abraham, former coach at New York's Columbia University and now a member of the faculty at San Francisco State University.
Drawing a parallel with the anti-Semitic prejudice he had endured at the New York Athletic Club decades earlier to the challenges of acceptance facing the gay wrestlers of 1982, he not only instilled a sense of pride, but issued a challenge to the wrestlers to stay involved for change. The speech moved the audience to tears as the wrestlers realized they were about to make history.
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ABOVE: Peter Gomez of San Francisco (in blue) at 136.5 lbs. blocks Larry Blakeley, who moved from Tennessee to Los Angeles after the Games. Both were dead by 1992.