Rome, Oct 1 (IANS/AKI) Over 250 players from various countries will take part in a tennis tournament for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, ‘aimed at equality and fighting homophobia’, in the Italian capital city.
The ‘A Smash for Civil Rights’ tournament, organised by the Yellow Tennis Rome and Gay Project advocacy groups, Rome city council and the Province of Rome, kicked off Thursday.
‘The hope is that Rome can become the capital of sport aimed at equality and fighting homophobia,’ said Gay Project president Imma Battaglia.
She hoped Rome would host the 2020 Olympics and the Gay Games at the same time.
Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno and Equal Opportunities Minister Mara Carfagna will be among the top officials attending the event, which was taking place at two tennis clubs, the Tennis Club Garden and Sporting Club La Torre.
Yellow Tennis Rome said its mission was to involve people of all ages, races, sexual orientation, gender and religious beliefs in tennis.
The group organises a national tennis tournament every year during the Rome Gay Pride week in June.
A doubles tournament would also be held during Oct 29-31 in Salerno city.
