The inaugural Asia Pacific Outgames and Midsumma Festival in Melbourne begins next weekend, and organisers say they've signed up a large number New Zealanders to come and "play with their neighbours".
Taking place between 19 January and 10 February, the Festival and Outgames aim to embrace the Asia Pacific gay and lesbian community and their friends, with a wide variety of sports, as well as a Human Rights Conference, and cultural festival including shows, parties, film screenings, and a Pride March in St. Kilda.
New Zealand's transsexual former MP Georgina Beyer will speak at the human rights conference, and former Wellington drag diva Pollyfilla will present Pollywood - her one-woman comedy revue.
Melbourne Outgames spokesperson Graeme Lewsey says there are many teams and individuals from New Zealand signed up to compete at the Outgames, to be held between 30 January and 3 February.
"We're really looking strong with hundreds of registrations from throughout New Zealand. We have roughly an even 50% split of NZ athletes coming from Wellington and Auckland," he says.
"All Kiwis will march into the Opening Celebration under the NZ banner in order of their chosen NZ city. The most popular sports for New Zealanders so far are swimming, ten pin bowling, running and badminton."
The Outgames and Festival will be an opportunity to experience something special, says Games Co-President Loraine Little. "Travellers will experience the specialness that is Melbourne. Arts, culture, sport, food and wine, Melbourne has the lot.
"We're showing that Melbourne is an open, accepting and diverse city," she explains. "It's city proud of its community. This is a privilege that should not be forgotten given the vastly different economic and political circumstances that many of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from Asia experience."