The retired British basketball player became the first former NBA star to come out publicly, doing so in his memoir Man in the Middle, following his retirement in 2007.

However, despite being a Gay Games ambassador, who is "broadly supportive" of London's bid to host the event in 2018 explaining "that it would be nice to use the Park for something good", he thinks a change is due.

"I'm tired of the infighting, not within the Bid Committee there, but the fact that there is the 'out' Games on the one side and the Gay Games on the other," 42-year-old Amaechi told insidethegames.

"I'm just not interested in that.

"I would like there to be an amalgam.

"I think it is an absurdity.

"It's people with a lack of principle who think they can get away with keeping their position in power for a little bit longer and that's where they won't come together I think."

London is one of five cities bidding to host the 2018 Gay Games, which would see it emulate Chicago, who staged them in 2006





London is currently in a bid race to host the 2018 Gay Games, alongside its old London 2012 Games rival Paris, Amsterdam - the only bidding city to have already hosted a Gay Games back in 1998 - the Irish city of Limerick and Orlando in the United States.

The Bid Committees now have the opportunity to answer questions from the public about their bid before the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) announces the three shortlisted cities on May 31 this year.

Speaking of London's chances to win the hosting rights for the 2018 Gay Games, which is expected to see up to 10,000 athletes competing across a number of events, Amaechi thinks they are "good" but says there could be a chance for Paris after it lost its bitter battle to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics to the British city.

"Paris' bid is also very good and maybe there's a kickback: Paris didn't get the Olympics so they get this instead," he said.

"I don't think that will be the case, but it could be."

The 2014 Gay Games are due take place in Cleveland and Akron in the United States, the country that has held half of the Games that have taken place since its inception in 1982, in founding city San Francisco twice, as well as New York City and Chicago.

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