Gold for Aussies at Outgames Copenhagen

Sydney’s gay and lesbian hockey club, the Sydney Bentstix, was awarded a gold medal at the Copenhagen 2009 World Outgames.

The club fought off rivals from The Netherlands and Britain to score gold under what Bentstix General Manager Danny Caretti said was the strongest team in the club’s history.

The Bentstix’s medal win is among a total 118 brought home by Australia, including 50 gold, putting it in seventh place overall.

Swimming and rowing accounted for the majority of Australia’s medals, with 52 and 19 medals respectively, and track and field accounted for 27. Australia also recorded medals for badminton, bowling, dancing, roller racing, running, softball and triathlon.

The United States finished with 506 medals overall, followed by Germany (274) and the Netherlands (243).

Host nation Denmark scored 202 medals.

Thirty-five countries participated in the Outgames, which were held from July 25 to August 2.

Australia’s northern neighbour Indonesia scored two medals, while New Zealanders took home 16.

Australia's Perfect (Gay) Couple to hit Aussie TV

This week Melburnians Robbie, 34, and Dan, 33, appear as the token gay couple on Channel Nine’s new reality TV show Australia’s Perfect Couple. The show features eight just-married couples, deliriously in love and embarking on their new lives together, all under the one roof. Couples undergo challenges and one pair is eliminated each week with their on the $250,000 prize.

Robbie, a travel agent, and Dan, a training manager for a beauty company, aren’t married – although they’ve had a commitment ceremony. They chose to go on the show to demonstrate that they are just like every other couple.

It will be interesting to see what impact the show, which has already finished filming, will have on the couple's life. They hope it breaks down some barriers for gay people.

Having met at the Market nightclub in Melbourne, the pair have been together for six years. It will be interesting to see if Robbie and Dan's relationship can withstand this next challenge.

Australia’s Perfect Couple premieres this week on Channel Nine.