TORONTO - Olympic gymnast Kris Burley remained in the closet

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TORONTO - Olympic gymnast Kris Burley remained in the closet throughout his career. Tre Boston Jersey .The international sporting environment was too hostile a place for a gay athlete.From my perspective, to be the best athlete that you can be, and to reach your objectives, you have to be able to be yourself, Burley said. And my personal experience is . . . it wasnt a comfortable and open environment for me. And it was really challenging. And I know thats shared by a lot of athletes that have similar stories.When Toronto hosts the Pan American Games next summer in Toronto, Burley said it will mark the first time the organizing committee has worked in partnership with the local gay community.That sends a real message I think, a real leadership message to set a higher standard for inclusion, Burley said.The Truro, N.S., native was the emcee for Fridays unveiling of PrideHouse Torontos plans for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.They include a celebration zone in the citys Church-Wellesley Village, with family activities such as pick-up sports games.The 519 Church Street Community Centre will be turned into a Pan Am pavilion, with a safe space for people to watch the Games as well as celebrate athletes and inclusion in sports, said PrideHouse spokesperson Ryan Tollofson.There will be a PrideHouse presence at other Games sites such as Nathan Phillips Square and the CNE grounds, with 16 ambassadors from across Ontario, who have been trained to be able to address questions about the importance of inclusion in sport.There has never been a PrideHouse at a Pan Am Games, Tollofson said. Eleven Pan American countries still criminalize LGBTQ activity, PrideHouse Toronto said.We want to set an example for what inclusion in sport can be, Tollofson said. Were very fortunate in Canada to have a country where we have a lot of rights and protections as gay folks, as LGBTQ people, and so we want to be able to demonstrate that to the world. The main goal of PrideHouse is to make the Pan Am Games the most inclusive multi-sport Games in history.Burley competed for Canada at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and then the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, retiring that same year.The former gymnast said that while Canada is an international leader in LGBTQ rights, sports still remains behind other areas of society in terms of inclusion.You can see that from all the media that comes from every athlete that comes out, beginning with (NBA player) Jason Collins right through to Michael Sam (the first publicly gay athlete to be drafted into the NFL) and some of the other athletes, Burley said.Torontos PrideHouse for the Pan Am Games, he said, isnt about a bricks-and-mortar building where people say OK, thats where the gays are going to participate in the Games.Its also about including Toronto communities, as well as encouraging the LGBTQ community to participate fully in the Games.Were not quite there yet in sport, I think were a little bit behind, Burley said. But this is a good step in the right direction, and it sets a good precedent and Im hoping that future organizing committees with all adopt the same thing, and it will just be standard that the LGBTQ component and diversity in general gets incorporated as part of every Games going forward.The Pan Am Games are July 10-26, while the Parapan Am Games are Aug. 7-15. Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey . The Force had two men, including former Wallabies No. 8 Ben McCalman, in the sin-bin in the dying minutes of the match, but were able to resist a late Highlanders surge to post a four-try, bonus point win. Dexter McCoil Jersey . Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told local media in comments published Wednesday that John Tomic would not be allowed into Melbourne Park in any official capacity or as a spectator. http://www.authenticchargersnflfansmall.com/c-64-chargers-spencer-pulley-jersey.aspx . JOHNS, N.TORONTO -- The reigning Canadian mens curling champions have a new skip for the next Tim Hortons Brier. John Morris will join forces with third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen as Team Canada makes its debut at the 2015 Brier in Calgary. He replaces Kevin Koe, who left the champions to form a new team with third Marc Kennedy, second Brent Laing and lead Ben Hebert. "Were thrilled to be able to bring aboard a player of Johns calibre," Simmons said in a statement. "Of course, weve always had a great deal of respect for John as a player and a rival, and were excited about what we can do together on the ice next season." At the 2014 Brier, Morris skipped the B.C. team (third Jim Cotter, second Tyrel Griffith, lead Rick Sawatsky) that lost to Koes Alberta foursome in the final. Tyrell Williams Jersey. Morris said he will play a limited schedule during the 2014-15 season due to work commitments. "My plan was to take the 2014-15 season off as I move ahead in my career as a firefighter," said Morris, who lives in Chestermere, Alta., just outside of Calgary. "But to be able to play for Team Canada, and considering the Alberta events are so close to home, it was hard to pass up on this offer. I talked it over with Jim, Tyrel and Rick and they were very understanding. I cant thank them enough for the season we had, and I wish them nothing but the very best going forward." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '