Gay World Cup kicks off in Buenos Aires

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The 10th annual Gay World Cup, the first held in Latin America, begins today in Buenos Aires.

Competing are 28 teams from across the planet. It is a club competition, not one involving national teams, like the regular World Cup held every four years. The United States leads with nine clubs present. Four Argentine clubs are competing. Squads from Chile, Mexico and Uruguay are also participating, along with teams from Europe and Canada.

The event is meant as a strike against homophobia. Buenos Aires was chosen because of its tolerance of alternate lifestyles, organizers say. The Argentine capital has become a major destination for gay travelers.

‘It’s a city recognized for social acceptance and respect for the community,’ Peruvian Tomás Gómez, president of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Assn., told the Clarin newspaper.

Posted by Andres D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires and Patrick J. McDonnell in Lima, Peru