Showing posts with label Gay Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay Games. Show all posts

Monday, February 14, 2022

Gay Games Hong Kong and FGG announce Guadalajara as presumptive co-host of 11th Gay Games in 2023

The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and Gay Games 11 Hong Kong (GGHK) today announced that Guadalajara has been named the presumptive co-host of the November 2023 Gay Games, a global multisport event founded in 1982 that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Guadalajara, a finalist for the 2022 and 2026 Gay Games, is an international city located in Jalisco, a state with the official slogan “Jalisco is México” for being the birthplace of many significant Mexican cultural mainstays including tequila, mariachi, birria, and more.

Lisa Lam, co-chair of GGHK, said, “In these unprecedented times, we have to be agile and adaptable to a constantly changing environment. Faced with continued challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic, with the desire to ensure more participants can join the Games regardless of their locations, GGHK recently proposed the concept of a co-hosted event to the FGG.

“By having Gay Games 11 accessible to participants across two locations we can ensure we meet our aim of being as inclusive as possible while international travel continues to recover. We will still be holding the first Gay Games in Asia, but potentially for the first time in Latin America as well, welcoming the widest possible audience to both cities. There is a huge amount of planning to do and we will be providing more detailed updates as soon as we are in a position to share more information.”

Sean Fitzgerald, co-president of FGG, said, “We are energized by this opportunity to organise the first Gay Games in Asia and in Latin America both in November 2023. While the Games are two years away, we are embarking on a mountain of feasibility studies and planning to be undertaken in collaboration between the FGG, Hong Kong and Guadalajara. The passion of these two teams will bring to life the vision of Dr Tom Waddell and the mission of the Gay Games: participation, inclusion and personal best.”

GGHK also announced today the members of its “Road to 2023” management committee, a dedicated and passionate team of over 20 leaders, many of whom have been with the Games since Hong Kong won the bid in 2017. Leading a passionate team of volunteers, this group will bring fresh energy, established experience and connections, essential ingredients for a successful event. For in-depth profiles of each member please visit this [link].

After seven years, the last two full-time in volunteer capacity leading the GGHK team, Dennis Philipse, founder and co-chair has resigned from the management team and will continue to support its mission as a member of GGHK’s Advisory Committee. To ensure continuity as Hong Kong and Guadalajara build the co-host teams, Lisa Lam will remain as GGHK co-chair and Nigel Lee, who has represented GGHK at FGG events for the last few years, will stand in as acting co-chair until a new co-chair based in Hong Kong can be brought on-board.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Valencia, Spain Named Presumptive Host for 2026 Gay Games XII FGG

At the FGG 2021 Annual General Assembly Meeting In Brighton, U.K., Valencia was named presumptive host of Gay Games XII to be held in 2026. Congratulations Valencia! We are so excited to be heading there in 2026!” Joanie Evans The ceremonial Gay Games flag will be passed from Hong Kong to Valencia in November 2023 when Gay Games 11 will take place after being postponed from 2022. 

Dave Killian, Officer of Site Selection says, "The Site Selection process to host the Gay Games is a long and difficult one. The FGG is thrilled that Valencia has been selected as the presumptive host of Gay Games XII in 2026 and look forward to working with them to produce an amazing event. The Gay Games will be held for the first time in Spain, which highlights the growing global footprint of our event." 

Co-President, Sean Fitzgerald states, “All finalist bid cities did an amazing job in delivering their final presentations but at the end of the day there can only be one host city. We are delighted it is Valencia and we are confident that the team will do an incredible job of bringing the Gay Games principles to their city." Co-President, Joanie Evans adds, “Congratulations Valencia! We are so excited to be heading there in 2026. As someone who has been on a bid team (London 2018), I know the heartache of not winning and I want to recognize our two other finalists, Guadalajara and Munich. That said, we feel that Valencia will bring a rich dimension to the Games and, this being the first time a Games will be held in Spain, it will have a positive impact on the city." 

A record number of 20 cities from 6 continents expressed interest in bidding to host 2026 Gay Games XII. 

The bid cities were: Brisbane, Australia; São Paulo, Brazil; Toronto, Canada; Munich, Germany; Dublin, Ireland Guadalajara, Mexico; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Auckland, New Zealand; Lisbon, Portugal; Cape Town, South Africa; Durban, South Africa; Valencia, Spain; Taipei, Taiwan; Liverpool, UK; Austin, USA; Fort; Lauderdale, USA; Minneapolis, USA; New Orleans, USA; San Diego, USA; Seattle, USA The eight cities that made it to the semi-final round were Auckland, Brisbane, Guadalajara, Munich, San Diego, Taipei, Toronto and Valencia. 

A core principle of the Federation of Gay Games is “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™”. These principles will be represented next at Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong in November 2023. There will be 36 sports and numerous Arts and Culture events over 9 days. It has never been more important to stand up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ communities around the world. About the Federation of Gay Games The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, as a way to empower thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes and artists through sport, culture, and fellowship. It was first held in San Francisco in 1982. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), Cleveland+Akron (2014), and Paris (2018). Gay Games 11 will be held in Hong Kong in 2022. Visit www.gaygameshk2022.com for more information. 

Monday, April 12, 2021

Pre-registration Now Open for Gay Games Hong Kong


Pre-registration is now open for Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022.

Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022’s (GGHK) unique combination of sport, arts, culture, fun and community brings together diverse groups of people to experience moments of joy. It will create unity and positive attitudes that will last a lifetime in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond under our belief of “Unity In Diversity”.

GGHK will take place on 11-19 November 2022 for the first time in Asia. We are expecting 12,000 participants, 75,000 spectators and 3,000 volunteers from 100 countries. There are 36 sports including new events; Dragon Boat Racing, Dodgeball, eSports, and Trail Running, Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Festival Village, and Arts & Culture events with daily performances, a Gala Concert, LGBTQ+ art exhibitions, and a variety of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gay Games. Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, or background. GGHK is organised and funded by the community, participants, commercial partners and sponsors. Supporting organisations include the Equal Opportunities Commission, BrandHK, InvestHK and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Stonewall Fitness: Gay Games 9: Ready to #GOALLOUT! (Part 1)

By David Smith

This past week I had the upmost pleasure of competing at Gay Games 9 in Cleveland, OH. The Gay Games is the largest multi-sport event held outside of the Olympic Games drawing in thousands of athletes, volunteers, participants and spectators from around the world for a week of friendly competition and performance. What sets the Gay Games apart is the emphasis on inclusion and participation. You don’t have to be gay to participate. Many people from all sexual orientations, gender identities, races, countries, ages and backgrounds all come out to participate. For the competition, for the challenge, for parties, for the hospitality even just to have a week to be able to openly celebrate who you are and whom you love without the fear, abuse, discrimination or hate that is so often seen in countries from around the world.

4 years ago I competed in my first Gay Games, 2010 in Cologne, Germany and I consider that experience as one of the most profound, life changing experiences of my life. Having only gotten back into swimming for 2 years I suddenly thrust myself from small, local swim meets to the world stage. Never even been out of the country and suddenly I found myself in a new culture, new city and surrounding by all these amazing athletes taking part of such a big event. Coming off of that experience I had already begun looking forward to the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland, in the past 4 years I have continued to grow and evolve as an individual, athlete and professional. However it still hadn’t quite hit me just how fast the 2014 Gay Games were coming but I knew that I wanted to make it big and truly be apart of it as much as I could. Having high expectations the games and myself following Cologne, I took every opportunity I could to share my experience and my story. I chose with the Gay Games themselves to inspire and encourage other people sign up and participate on their own levels. I even started a business as my vehicle to help bring people together in the LGBT community with exercise, athletes and fitness in the spirit of the games.

2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany
When I returned from Germany I had 6 medals in my hand from swimming. I had many fast swims and personal bests however my age group was not very competitive and so several of my medals were simply won by default. However leading up to Cleveland I aged up and knew my new age group would be much more competitive. I swum an LGBT swim meet in 2013 in Seattle, not having trained hard for that meet I had a solid reminder of just how competitive it can be, placing off the podium in all but one of my events and I left Seattle with a sense of disappointment in myself. I wondered just where all that motivation I had in Germany had gone? Of course this was not acceptable to me so I decided that come Cleveland I would be ready and know in myself that no matter what happened, I would come home feeling proud and accomplished in myself.

At that moment I really begun to train hard, pushing my limits each and every day to levels higher than I have ever pushed before. People were calling me crazy and couldn’t understand how or why I would put myself through so much abuse! However I knew what I had to do and that if I truly wanted to accomplish my goals at Gay Games and get even closer to my goal of competing at the Olympic Games than I would have to really step it up.


As the Gay Games drew closer I really stepped up my efforts to promote the games as well, knowing that my experience in Germany as a Gay Games virgin awaited so many people who are on the verge of greatness. In Cleveland I realized that the Gay Games are a thing, I mean a real thing. I didn’t think too much of that in Germany but seeing several Gay Games virgin, many whom I helped encouraged to come, seeing their faces and listening to their experiences. I knew in my heart that we truly are apart of something great.
2014 USMS Spring Nationals I stepped up my competition season in the spring and really wanted to get as many races possible in as I could in preparation. Runs, Duathlons, Triathlons and Swim Meets were the defining moments of April, May and June and I had gotten my first taste of serious competition when I found myself with a sponsor (Thanks Josh Hunt at Trelora) for the USMS Spring Nationals in Santa Clara, California! The opportunity for nationals like that fell into my lap pretty quick and unfortunately I hadn’t had time to really adapt my training schedule for it. I was not able to taper for the meet very well but I still went in ready to push some limits. The swim meet was huge and brought in thousands of swimmers from all over the country! It was truly an amazing experience to take part in however I was not fully prepared for it and ended up leaving disappointed in myself again knowing I could have swum stronger and faster than I did.

The summer leading up to the Games I really stepped up my training, to the point of neglect in other parts of my life, particularly my social life because I did not want to leave Cleveland with the same feelings as when I left Seattle or Santa Clara. I wanted this Gay Games to be even bigger for me than the 2010 Games and so I pushed myself so hard to be ready for it. I set my goals high and my expectations even higher, I wasn’t coming to Cleveland to disappoint. So many people and friends really gave me a lot of support. From helping me pay for the trip, sponsoring me, helping me buy equipment, supporting Stonewall Fitness or even just being there when I needed someone to vent too I certainly didn’t want to let anybody down, or most importantly let myself down.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Save $$$ on Gay Games Registration With Aspen Gay Ski Week!

Content Inline
Aspen Gay Ski Week wants to help you save $$$ on registration for Gay Games 2014.  Register by 5/31/14 and save $30 off registration by using code GOASPEN15 at 2014GayGames.com
Finalize your plans to participate in the world's largest international multi-sport event coming to Cleveland+Akron this August 9-16. 
More than 20,000 participants from over 40 countries are expected to compete and celebrate with all kinds of world-class sports, parties and events. The 2014 Gay Games is the LAST games in North America until at least 2022, so you don't want to miss the world's largest LGBT party, held only once every four years! Make your plans today.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Stonewall Fitness: My Outsports Story

PictureBy David Smith
Opening Ceremony of 2010 Gay Games
 
I was contacted by Outsports on sharing my story and experience with the Gay Games. I decided to share my store here as well. :)

The summer of 2008 was a moment in my life where I really hit rock bottom, being overweight and depressed, I was 20 and living with my parents. Not really sure what to do with my life and had done nothing with my life, I really felt like I had no purpose. This really took a toll as I became very depressed, had no confidence in myself or self esteem, I also had no friends and no real reason to wake up in the morning.

By the end of the summer I decided I had enough and was ready for a change. Watching the 2008 Olympic Games I become inspired to make a difference within myself. For the first time in my life I decided take a chance and step forward. Right then and there I decided I wanted to be an Olympian. Watching the inspirational and amazing athletes participate in the event of a lifetime, to have the opportunity to be apart of something greater than themselves really has put me forth on a journey that has led me to places and experiences I had never thought possible.

It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. My journey toward better physical and mental fitness has never been about aesthetics; it has always been about accomplishing more and constantly challenging to better myself and the world around me.

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Spring of 2008 at 185-190lbs (I am 145lbs now!)
PictureGold Medal Relay Team!
The Gay Games are very important to me; the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne were my first games. It was very significant for me to leave the country for the first time and to feel that not only did I feel apart of a great community but I felt that I truly had a sense of purpose. The experience was nothing short of amazing, being immersed in a new culture surrounded by thousands of athletes and people from around the world, marching in the opening ceremony, competing in my sport and watching the other athletes compete and participate. Making many new friends, many of whom I still keep in touch with today and watching my friends accomplish more than they ever thought possible. I returned from the 2010 Gay Games with a newfound appreciation and drive toward my goals. It was the first taste and the first step on my journey toward accomplishing what I set out to do.  

Since that first step I took, my life has changed exponentially. Not only did my experience at the Gay Games help shape who I am as an athlete but I also started to find my passion and purpose within the community. Finally finishing college with a degree in Exercise Science that I am proud to have and use, I stepped forward in reaching out to my community in helping those around me see that there is more to the world. My experience at the Gay Games and challenges toward becoming an Olympian has helped me in working toward uniting the LGBT community through exercise, fitness and sport.  The experience and steps I’ve taken to better myself and the world around me has done so much to improve my quality of life that I want to help inspire others to take such steps for themselves. I am not just a personal trainer; I call myself an exercise professional because I do more than just train people. I am working to change how our community views exercise and fitness, to help other people see that there is so much opportunity and potential from within that in essence; we can all be an Olympian. To truly find our purpose and be apart of something greater than ourselves. 

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Go Metro State Roadrunners!
As a result I have started my own business, Stonewall Fitness as my vehicle to bring people together and to help people within the LGBT community see that there is more in the world and in ourselves, that we can all reach farther and truly accomplish what we set out to do.
For more information on how to get involved with the Gay Games Cleveland and Stonewall Fitness, visit the Gay Games Athlete Page and register now!

Monday, March 3, 2014

Stonewall Fitness: What the Gay Games Mean To Me

By David Smith

The summer of 2008 was a moment in my life where I really hit rock bottom. I was overweight and depressed and living with my parents at age 20. I was not really sure what to do with my life and had done nothing with my life. I really felt like I had no purpose. This really took a toll as I became very depressed, had no confidence in myself or self esteem. I also had no friends and no real reason to wake up in the morning. 

By the end of the summer I decided I had enough and was ready for a change. Watching the 2008 Olympic Games I became inspired to make a difference within myself.

For the first time in my life I decided take a chance and step forward. Right then and there I decided I wanted to be an Olympian. Watching the inspirational and amazing athletes participate in the event of a lifetime, to have the opportunity to be part of something greater than themselves really has put me forth on a journey that has led me to places and experiences I had never thought possible.

It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

Friday, December 20, 2013

2014 Gay Games: Team Colorado Pep Rally Party Coming Up January 2!


The 2014 Gay Games, presented by the Cleveland Foundation, will be holding the Team Colorado Pep Rally Party on Thursday, January 2, 2014, from 6-9pm at Hamburger Mary’s. Everybody is invited to join Team Colorado’s efforts to inform, excite and register participants for the 2014 Gay Games.

The ninth quadrennial Gay Games is one of the biggest sports and cultural festivals in the world, expecting more than 10,000 people from more than 65 countries.  The Gay Games was founded on the principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™ and is open to everybody regardless of sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, religion, nationality, political convictions, age, physical condition or athletic ability.

Started in 1982, the Gay Games happen every four years around the world. Paris will host the 2018 Gay Games. In 2014, the Gay Games will feature more than 30 recreational and competitive sports, as well as cultural activities, band and choral events.

The Team Colorado Pep Rally Party will have information on all sports at the Gay Games, how to participate, registration discounts, team captain incentive program, scholarship application information, accommodations and travel planning. The party features BOGO drink specials, fun games and more. Free Gay Games t-shirts will go to on-site registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

White House staffer wins gold medal at Gay Games

Kei Koizumi, 41, won gold at the recent Gay Games held in Cologne, Germany. Koizumi, who works in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, placed first in the 110-meter hurdles.

"We at OSTP expect such nimbleness but do not generally give out medals for it," said spokesman Rick Weiss.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Jack Mackenroth brings home the gold ...

... and the silver, and the bronze!

Sexy reality TV star, fashion designer and HIV/AIDS advocate Jack Mackenroth brought back seven medals from the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany including one gold, five silver, and one bronze.

Read all about it on his blog at JackMackenroth.com.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Cleveland wins bid to host 2014 Gay Games

MetroWeekly is reporting that Washington D.C. has lost out to Cleveland in the bid to host the 2014 Gay Games.

The 2010 Gay Games will be held in Cologne, Germany.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Three cities in the running to host Gay Games 2014


When the cry “Let the games begin” rings out in 2014 for the official start of Gay Games IX, one U.S. city will be hosting the event. But will it be Boston, Cleveland, or Washington, D.C.?

All three metropolitan areas, still under consideration, have LGBT publications. And already, local niche publications have provided coverage, primarily about their respective city’s bid to the Federation of Gay Games, the organization charged with overall stewardship of the global sporting event as well as oversight of the site selection process.

Even national LGBT media, the Advocate and Outsports.com, have taken note.

Which city gets the nod is anybody’s guess; the choice won’t be made until late September. Meanwhile, local LGBT community leaders and allies are making their case.

Read more after the jump.

A recent piece in Boston’s Bay Windows, for instance, reported that Boston 2014, a grassroots organization, pins its hopes for site selection on the city’s reputation “rich in cultural diversity and athletics” as well as the state’s historic first in granting marriage equality.

Cleveland’s Gay People’s Chronicle reported that the Cleveland Synergy Council, the local group behind the bid there, pins its hope on the city’s affordability and compact central downtown location for all events. In addition, “There’s a very, very aggressive effort by the council to make Cleveland the welcoming city it is,” reporter Tony Glassman told Press Pass Q. Like Boston, “Cleveland is a big sports town,” Glassman added.

The Aug. 6 issue of Metro Weekly, based in Washington, D.C., ran a Gay Games-related cover story – a lengthy interview with Brent Minor, head of the D.C. bid committee. Another story focused on local athletes who have competed in previous competitions. “The sports community is big, very big here,” said Sean Bugg, Metro Weekly’s co-publisher. “Also the [metropolitan] area is used to holding large, diverse events. Nobody here is a stranger to people coming to town.”

The July 20 issue of Cleveland-based Spanglemagazine.com ran a comparison-of-bids piece, written by publisher and editor Brian Patrick Thornton and entitled “The Gay Games bids: gold, silver, or bronze,” which offered advice to the remaining contenders:

To “Boston [$10.4 million bid]: Prove your city is welcoming, and not unfriendly as is sometimes perceived outside the region. Prove your games can be affordable to all. Prove your focus is on athletics (there are a lot of ancillary things planned in your bid).”

To “Cleveland [$8.2 million bid]: Prove you have the infrastructure (both people and resources) to pull this off. Prove the location will be a draw to actually get participants to care about coming. Prove the region’s dismal economy can support the funding you need.”

And to “D.C. [$8.8 million bid]: Prove your plan will get things done on time. (For instance, not hiring a development director until 2011? That seems late.) Prove your venues are not too spread out with the notorious D.C. traffic and metro system. Prove you can be affordable.”

Undoubtedly, for whichever city wins out, “It will be a big economic boost to host the Gay Games,” said Wes Combs, co-founder of Witeck-Combs Communications, an LGBT-focused public relations and marketing firm. Witeck-Combs has provided counsel to the committee behind D.C.'s bid. At one time, the Federation of Gay Games was a client.

LGBT media stand to benefit, he went on to say, “especially with some LGBT publications having to shutter their doors these days because there is no advertising.” Here’s why. “Any marketer that signs on as an early sponsor of the games has an opportunity to plant a progressive plan in that city, telling why they are involved.”

One sure-fire cost-effective way to reach the potentially lucrative LGBT market is though local gay niche publications. So marketers can have “a really smart approach,” Combs said, by advertising in LGBT media. From a financial standpoint, Combs added, LGBT media will begin “seeing revenues from advertising sooner than four years out from the games.”

The possibilities of creative opportunities in editorial content also arise for LGBT media, according to Combs. Hosting the Gay Games “offers some of these media outlets a chance to come up with a creative way to partner with mainstream media to provide coverage not only from the standpoint of the local market, but also from the stand point of sports.”

Combs cited one possibility as an example: Outsports.com and ESPN in partnership with local niche publications. Outsports.com, he noted, specializes in gay sports, but does not necessarily know an individual city. “It’s a real opportunity to leverage the connections the gay press has.” Outsports.com could also provide Gay Games-specific content to local gay media at the same time serve as a news source for ESPN, he said.

“Disney is a gay friendly company, and everybody’s doing partnerships these days,” Combs said. “They’re required to make creative ideas work and to make every dollar stretch.” ESPN Inc. is an affiliated corporation with the Walt Disney Company.

Begun in 1982 in San Francisco, the Gay Games is the world’s largest sporting event specifically designed for LGBT athletes with participation open to people of all sexual orientations. Over the years seven cities have hosted the event, including Amsterdam, Chicago, Cologne, New York City, San Francisco, Sydney, and Vancouver. In 2006, Chicago was the last American location for Gay Games VII. (All this is not to be confused with the World Outgames, which were held in Montréal in 2006 and in Copenhagen this year.)

Currently, Federation of Gay Games (FGG) representatives are conducting site visitations and hearing final presentations. The Federation’s announcement of the winner is expected on Sept. 29.

-Article by Chuck Colbert, writing for Press Pass Q