A star-studded lineup of Australian sporting royalty, including Olympic medallists and luminaries from several football codes, will participate in Saturday's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
The first three floats will focus on the fight against homophobia in sport and celebrate the achievements of elite gay athletes, the commitment by the major Australian sports to promote a more diverse and inclusive sporting environment, and the the success of the Sydney Convicts, who won the 2014 Bingham Cup, recognised as the World Cup of gay rugby.
The float carrying the elite athletes will showcase the logos of five major sports, cricket and the four main football codes, which signed the joint, historic commitment organised by Bingham Cup Sydney last April, to eliminate homophobia.
The list of sporting talent aboard the lead float includes a number of Olympians, gold medallists Matthew Mitcham (diving) and Daniel Kowalski (Swimming), dual basketball medallist Shelley Gorman and trampolinist, Jai Wallace.
Cricket and the four main football codes will also be represented.
Leading female cricketers Alex Blackwell and Elyse Villani will be joined by former Test and one-day international allrounder Greg Matthews.
Among the footballers will be Wallabies back Matt Toomua, Matildas Sunni Hughes and Thea Slatyer, Sydney FC'S Rhyan Grant and former rugby league star Paul Langmack.
Swans Mike Pyke, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith will participate less than 24 hours after playing in a NAB Challenge game in Coffs Harbour.
"Mardi Gras is a huge part of Sydney's culture and we are excited to be part of it," Pyke said.
"Equality right throughout the community and in sport is something we should all strive for."
The lead float will feature a mixture of elite gay and straight athletes.
"I'm very excited to take part in the parade as a proud, gay Australian athlete and stand beside some wonderful straight allies," Blackwell said.
The floats at this year's parade continue the recent high profile campaign against homophobia in sport.
The first international study on the issue, called Out on the Fields, initiated by Australians, will be released in April.
Some of results are being released for Mardi Gras.
The study found Australia has the highest sport participation by lesbian, gay and bisexual athletes of all English speaking countries, but that homophobia and discrimination is common.
"The example set by great sports men and women in denouncing homophobia is a powerful weapon against this irrational and vicious prejudice, as is their support for campaigns which aim to eradicate discrimination forever," said Ignatius Jones, Mardi Gras senior parade creative.
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