World’s largest LGBTQ+ sports festival lets queer people play (in photos)

The 18th annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival saw more than 10,000 athletes and allies from around the world gather for four days of sport and friendship.

The event, which was held between January 16-20 and presented by Lexus, featured 23 different sports, including adding martial arts to its roster of events. It takes place at the Flamingo in Las Vegas and is organized the four days leading up to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Sin City Classic co-executive director Jason Peplinski said the event is a place where the LGBTQ+ community can "at least for the weekend, leave our cares behind, bond with our fellow athletes, and celebrate living authentically."

This year’s list of sports included everything from basketball to cheerleading to golf to kickball.

The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association created the Sin City Classic in 2008 as an LGBTQ+ softball tournament meant to provide a safe and competitive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ athletes, according to the group.

Below, check out some photos from this year's Sin City Classic Sports Festival.