Why does this global variable come out nil?

_G.que = { }
_G.sparring = { }

repeat wait() until _G.que and _G.sparring ~= nil
print("running")
print(#que, #spar)

que = _G.que ; spar = _G.sparring

while #que >= 2 and #spar == 0 do
	wait(0.01)
	print("enough players")
	print(#que, #spar)
end