Top flight venues, fiscal accountability and widespread community support
cited by Federation of Gay Games
Cologne, Germany [29 September 2009] – The city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA, has been chosen by the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) to host the 2014 Gay Games.
The announcement by the FGG comes after a year-long site selection process that culminated in formal presentations by bidding cities to the FGG Membership Assembly meeting this week in Cologne, Germany, site of the 2010 Gay Games. Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and Washington, D.C., USA were the other two finalists.
“Cleveland demonstrated to the Federation of Gay Games that they understood the mission of the Gay Games and our principles of ‘Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best’™,” said Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), FGG Co-Presidents. “We were highly impressed by the facilities and infrastructure, the widespread community sport, their financial plan and the city’s experience in hosting large scale sports and cultural events.”
"The City of Cleveland is prepared to roll out the welcome mat to the LGBT athletes, their families and spectators from around the world," said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. "Fans of the Gay Games will find that Cleveland is a great place to celebrate sports and culture and that we have tremendous assets and amenities for them to enjoy. The sports and cultural environment here is truly a uniquely Cleveland experience, one they will cherish for years to come."
“We are extremely honoured and pleased that Cleveland has been selected to host the 2014 Gay Games,” said W. Doug Anderson, spokesperson for Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the bidding organization. “It is truly a privilege to continue Dr. Tom Waddell’s legacy and vision in our city – an extremely enthusiastic sports town - where the guiding principles of personal best, inclusion and participation are held dear. We are also pleased to be considered and selected from among two of the greatest cities in the world – Boston and Washington, D.C. – and greatly appreciate the support of both cities as Cleveland hosts the Gay Games in 2014.”
The Gay Games is a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell. Drawing as many as 12,000 participants, more than the Olympics, Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), and Chicago (2006). The 2010 Gay Games (www.games-cologne.com) will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 31 July to 7 August 2010.
Cleveland’s 2014 Gay Games IX Sports & Cultural Festival is scheduled to take place 9 to 16 August 2014. The 8-day event will feature 30 sports, 4 cultural events, an Opening and Closing Ceremony and community and cultural events throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area. Gay Games generate $50 to $80 million in estimated local economic impact in additional to significant ongoing travel and tourism visibility benefits for the host city.
The announcement was carried live worldwide via webcast. A recording of the announcement can be viewed “on demand” at http://www.livestream.com/2014GayGames.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Federation of Gay Games To Announce Host
Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, DC are finalists for 2014 Gay Games
Cologne, Germany [22 September 2009] - The international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) will announce the host of the 2014 Gay Games on Tuesday, 29 September 2009, at its 2009 Annual Meeting in Cologne, Germany. The announcement, to be carried live via webcast, will take place at 18:30 (6:30 pm) local time (12:30 pm US Eastern Time). A press conference in Cologne, Germany, will follow at 19:30 (7:30 pm) local time (1:30 pm US Eastern time).
The FGG will select a 2014 Gay Games IX host from three finalists: Boston, Massachusetts (USA); Cleveland, Ohio (USA) and Washington, DC (USA). The announcement and press conference will take place at the Wolkenburg, located at Mauritiussteinweg 59, Cologne, Germany. Media are invited.
The Gay Games is a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell. Drawing as many as 12,000 participants, more than the Olympics, Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), and Chicago (2006). The 2010 Gay Games will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 31 July to 7 August 2010. For information on the 2010 Gay Games, visit www.games-cologne.de (German) or www.games-cologne.com (English).
Background and Media Resources
Site Selection Process
The announcement culminates a year-long site selection process. After initial declarations of interest from more than a dozen cities, three cities submitted their formal bid documents in March 2009. After a three-month-long Q&A process between the bid groups and the FGG, inspection teams travelled to all three cities in July and August of 2009 to view proposed venues, gauge community and civic support, and review operational, financial and marketing plans.
Final Site Selection Timeline
The site inspection team will issue its report to the FGG’s Membership Assembly on Sunday, 27 September 2009. Teams from the three cities will make their final presentations to the FGG’s Membership Assembly on Monday, 28 September 2009. Final Q&A sessions and FGG deliberations will take place early on Tuesday, 29 September 2009. Voting will take place starting at 14:00 (2:00 pm) local time, (8:00 am US Eastern time). The FGG deliberations and vote will only be open to FGG members, Board Members and staff and not open to the public or members of the media. The announcement will be made at 18:30 (6:30 pm) local time (12:30 pm US Eastern Time).
Online Media Resources
Bid Process FAQ: http://www.gaygames.com/en/media/releases/2009/FGG031709PRen.pdf
Bidding City Documents: http://www.gaygames.com/en/bids/
Boston 2014 Website: http://www.boston2014.com
Cleveland 2014 Website: http://www.clevelandsynergyfoundation.org/
Washington DC 2014 Website: http://www.dcfreedomgames2014.org/
FGG Website: http://www.gaygames.com
FGG Online Press Room: http://www.gaygames.com/en/media/index.htm
On-Site Media Access - Cologne
Media interested in being present for the Site Selection announcement should contact Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, +1 312-588-3713. The live webcast will use the Ustream.com technology platform which will be publically accessible for free.
Media List
The FGG will issue a press release immediately following the live announcement in Cologne. This release will be emailed to interested media and posted in the press room on the FGG website at http://www.gaygames.com. Images from the announcement and press conference will also be posted in the FGG Online Press room. Contact Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, to be placed on the FGG media list.
Interview Requests
Representatives of the FGG as well as the three bidding cities will be available for interviews.
On Site in Germany: Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, +1 (847) 436-3424 (mobile)
USA Contact: Kristin Owen, Kristin.owen@allterrain.net, +1 (312) 588-3718
###
About The Federation of Gay Games:
The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay
Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™.
The Gay Games were conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and were first held in San Francisco in 1982. For more information, visit www.gaygames.com.
“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation,
Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trade marks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.
Cologne, Germany [22 September 2009] - The international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) will announce the host of the 2014 Gay Games on Tuesday, 29 September 2009, at its 2009 Annual Meeting in Cologne, Germany. The announcement, to be carried live via webcast, will take place at 18:30 (6:30 pm) local time (12:30 pm US Eastern Time). A press conference in Cologne, Germany, will follow at 19:30 (7:30 pm) local time (1:30 pm US Eastern time).
The FGG will select a 2014 Gay Games IX host from three finalists: Boston, Massachusetts (USA); Cleveland, Ohio (USA) and Washington, DC (USA). The announcement and press conference will take place at the Wolkenburg, located at Mauritiussteinweg 59, Cologne, Germany. Media are invited.
The Gay Games is a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell. Drawing as many as 12,000 participants, more than the Olympics, Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), and Chicago (2006). The 2010 Gay Games will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 31 July to 7 August 2010. For information on the 2010 Gay Games, visit www.games-cologne.de (German) or www.games-cologne.com (English).
Background and Media Resources
Site Selection Process
The announcement culminates a year-long site selection process. After initial declarations of interest from more than a dozen cities, three cities submitted their formal bid documents in March 2009. After a three-month-long Q&A process between the bid groups and the FGG, inspection teams travelled to all three cities in July and August of 2009 to view proposed venues, gauge community and civic support, and review operational, financial and marketing plans.
Final Site Selection Timeline
The site inspection team will issue its report to the FGG’s Membership Assembly on Sunday, 27 September 2009. Teams from the three cities will make their final presentations to the FGG’s Membership Assembly on Monday, 28 September 2009. Final Q&A sessions and FGG deliberations will take place early on Tuesday, 29 September 2009. Voting will take place starting at 14:00 (2:00 pm) local time, (8:00 am US Eastern time). The FGG deliberations and vote will only be open to FGG members, Board Members and staff and not open to the public or members of the media. The announcement will be made at 18:30 (6:30 pm) local time (12:30 pm US Eastern Time).
Online Media Resources
Bid Process FAQ: http://www.gaygames.com/en/media/releases/2009/FGG031709PRen.pdf
Bidding City Documents: http://www.gaygames.com/en/bids/
Boston 2014 Website: http://www.boston2014.com
Cleveland 2014 Website: http://www.clevelandsynergyfoundation.org/
Washington DC 2014 Website: http://www.dcfreedomgames2014.org/
FGG Website: http://www.gaygames.com
FGG Online Press Room: http://www.gaygames.com/en/media/index.htm
On-Site Media Access - Cologne
Media interested in being present for the Site Selection announcement should contact Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, +1 312-588-3713. The live webcast will use the Ustream.com technology platform which will be publically accessible for free.
Media List
The FGG will issue a press release immediately following the live announcement in Cologne. This release will be emailed to interested media and posted in the press room on the FGG website at http://www.gaygames.com. Images from the announcement and press conference will also be posted in the FGG Online Press room. Contact Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, to be placed on the FGG media list.
Interview Requests
Representatives of the FGG as well as the three bidding cities will be available for interviews.
On Site in Germany: Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@allterrain.net, +1 (847) 436-3424 (mobile)
USA Contact: Kristin Owen, Kristin.owen@allterrain.net, +1 (312) 588-3718
###
About The Federation of Gay Games:
The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay
Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™.
The Gay Games were conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and were first held in San Francisco in 1982. For more information, visit www.gaygames.com.
“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation,
Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trade marks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Like a dream come true....
Some of us at Compete Magazine are very fond of the icanhascheezburger.com website (particularly failblog.org). It should come as no surprise that Alfonzo about did a backflip when he found out about upnextinsports.com! It's the new ichb site that is dedicated to sports! You can caption and read other people's captions.
It really is an uber-good time....serious.
It really is an uber-good time....serious.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Registrations for Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 Pass 1,700
Sign up will close soon for two sports - Golf and Sailing – that are nearing capacity
Cologne, Germany – The organizers of the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, announced today that more than 1,700 athletes and artists have now registered to participate in the quadrennial sports & cultural event next July and August. Participants from more than 30 nations have already signed up including many from Eastern European countries where many who are openly gay or lesbian are still persecuted. Participation by the host country Germany leads all other nations with registrations from the United States and The Netherlands following close behind.
“Registrations have increased substantially in the last few months,” said Annette Wachter, CEO of Games Cologne. “Summer LGBT sports programs in North America and Europe have helped drive registrations from the USA, Canada and Europe. The approach of the southern hemisphere’s summer has also increased registrations from Australia and South Africa. We are on target to have participation levels of 8,000 to 10,000 next July and August in Cologne.” Two sports – golf and sailing – are nearing capacity. There are 34 sports and 4 cultural events being offered at the event.
“Now is the time to register for the 2010 Gay Games,” urged Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), co-presidents of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). “Early registration secures a participant’s spot in a sport or cultural event that may otherwise sell out, and allows Cologne to better plan for next summer’s 8th Gay Games.” FGG delegates from around the world will get a chance to review Cologne’s preparations as they head to the German host city September 26 to October 2, 2009, for its Annual meeting.
Gay Games VIII runs from July 31 to August 7, 2010, and will open with an inspiring Opening Ceremony at RheinEnergie Stadium, the city’s football (soccer) stadium. Up to 48,000 people are expected at the Opening Ceremony according to Andrea Müller, head of the Games Cologne Ceremony & Culture Task Force. Entertainment has not yet been announced but past Gay Games performers have included Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Erasure’s Andy Bell and Heather Small.
Media Sponsors
The 2010 Gay Games are proud to welcome its early media sponsors: reFRESH Magazine (London, UK), Blu Media/Sergei (Berlin, Germany), BOX Media (Cologne, Germany), Sydney Star Observer (Sydney, Australia), Southern Star (Melbourne, Australia), LOTL (Sydney/New York), Windy City Times (Chicago USA), Desert Daily Guide (Palm Springs, CA, USA), QNews (Brisbane, Australia), Out In Perth (Perth, Australia), Talk Magazine (Palm Springs, CA, USA), Liberty Press (Wichita, KS, USA) and Compete Magazine (Tempe, AZ, USA). For a full list of sponsors, visit http://www.games-cologne.com/. For media sponsorship information contact Ingo Schneider (Germany) at i.schneider@games-cologne.de, or Kevin Boyer (USA) at kevin.boyer@games-cologne.com.
About Gay Games
The Gay Games are a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete. Celebrated every four years, the Gay Games motto is “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best.” Drawing up to 12,000 participants – more than the Olympic Games – previous Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002) and Chicago (2006).
Cologne, Germany – The organizers of the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, announced today that more than 1,700 athletes and artists have now registered to participate in the quadrennial sports & cultural event next July and August. Participants from more than 30 nations have already signed up including many from Eastern European countries where many who are openly gay or lesbian are still persecuted. Participation by the host country Germany leads all other nations with registrations from the United States and The Netherlands following close behind.
“Registrations have increased substantially in the last few months,” said Annette Wachter, CEO of Games Cologne. “Summer LGBT sports programs in North America and Europe have helped drive registrations from the USA, Canada and Europe. The approach of the southern hemisphere’s summer has also increased registrations from Australia and South Africa. We are on target to have participation levels of 8,000 to 10,000 next July and August in Cologne.” Two sports – golf and sailing – are nearing capacity. There are 34 sports and 4 cultural events being offered at the event.
“Now is the time to register for the 2010 Gay Games,” urged Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), co-presidents of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). “Early registration secures a participant’s spot in a sport or cultural event that may otherwise sell out, and allows Cologne to better plan for next summer’s 8th Gay Games.” FGG delegates from around the world will get a chance to review Cologne’s preparations as they head to the German host city September 26 to October 2, 2009, for its Annual meeting.
Gay Games VIII runs from July 31 to August 7, 2010, and will open with an inspiring Opening Ceremony at RheinEnergie Stadium, the city’s football (soccer) stadium. Up to 48,000 people are expected at the Opening Ceremony according to Andrea Müller, head of the Games Cologne Ceremony & Culture Task Force. Entertainment has not yet been announced but past Gay Games performers have included Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Erasure’s Andy Bell and Heather Small.
Media Sponsors
The 2010 Gay Games are proud to welcome its early media sponsors: reFRESH Magazine (London, UK), Blu Media/Sergei (Berlin, Germany), BOX Media (Cologne, Germany), Sydney Star Observer (Sydney, Australia), Southern Star (Melbourne, Australia), LOTL (Sydney/New York), Windy City Times (Chicago USA), Desert Daily Guide (Palm Springs, CA, USA), QNews (Brisbane, Australia), Out In Perth (Perth, Australia), Talk Magazine (Palm Springs, CA, USA), Liberty Press (Wichita, KS, USA) and Compete Magazine (Tempe, AZ, USA). For a full list of sponsors, visit http://www.games-cologne.com/. For media sponsorship information contact Ingo Schneider (Germany) at i.schneider@games-cologne.de, or Kevin Boyer (USA) at kevin.boyer@games-cologne.com.
About Gay Games
The Gay Games are a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete. Celebrated every four years, the Gay Games motto is “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best.” Drawing up to 12,000 participants – more than the Olympic Games – previous Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002) and Chicago (2006).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
We're accepting nominations for our 2009 Athlete of the Year
In its third year of publication, Compete, The Gay Sports Magazine, will begin accepting applications for its 2009 Athlete of the Year.
“We decided to move the announcement date to later in the year to accommodate participants in this year’s Copenhagen Outgames,” says Eric Carlyle, Co-Publisher and CEO. "We’re very proud to have been the first publication to name a GLBT Athlete of the Year and we look forward to continuing the tradition."
Compete Magazine’s Athlete of the Year will be selected based on commitment to personal achievement, active participation in an individual or team sport, commitment to supporting/encouraging others in sports and commitment to the GLBT sporting community and/or GLBT community.
Compete encourages all GLBT athletes or fans to nominate themselves and/or any deserving GLBT individual. Nominations can be made by anyone at http://competemag.com/aoty. Nominations will be accepted beginning September 1 through October 6, 2009. Nominees are encouraged to submit a 250-500 word essay describing the importance of sports in his/her life and at least one letter of reference. Photos, short introduction DVDs (no more than two minutes), and video submissions are also acceptable.
“We’re still very happy to be the first publication to award a gay Athlete of the Year and expect to do so for many years to come," said company GM David Riach.
Finalists will be submitted to a panel of celebrity judges consisting of 2008 Athlete of the Year Jeff Kagan, HGTV Design Star Winner and host of Color Splash David Bromstad, race car driver Evan Darling, Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach and Former WNBA Athlete Bridget Pettis, and three-time X-Games Gold Medalist Sarah Burke. This year’s Athlete of the Year will appear in the December issue of Compete, The Gay Sports Magazine.
Compete, The Gay Sports Magazine’s 2009 Athlete of the Year is sponsored by Orbitz, Desires Hotel at San Juan Water & Beach Club and Sidelines Sports Bar (Ft. Lauderdale).
“We decided to move the announcement date to later in the year to accommodate participants in this year’s Copenhagen Outgames,” says Eric Carlyle, Co-Publisher and CEO. "We’re very proud to have been the first publication to name a GLBT Athlete of the Year and we look forward to continuing the tradition."
Compete Magazine’s Athlete of the Year will be selected based on commitment to personal achievement, active participation in an individual or team sport, commitment to supporting/encouraging others in sports and commitment to the GLBT sporting community and/or GLBT community.
Compete encourages all GLBT athletes or fans to nominate themselves and/or any deserving GLBT individual. Nominations can be made by anyone at http://competemag.com/aoty. Nominations will be accepted beginning September 1 through October 6, 2009. Nominees are encouraged to submit a 250-500 word essay describing the importance of sports in his/her life and at least one letter of reference. Photos, short introduction DVDs (no more than two minutes), and video submissions are also acceptable.
“We’re still very happy to be the first publication to award a gay Athlete of the Year and expect to do so for many years to come," said company GM David Riach.
Finalists will be submitted to a panel of celebrity judges consisting of 2008 Athlete of the Year Jeff Kagan, HGTV Design Star Winner and host of Color Splash David Bromstad, race car driver Evan Darling, Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach and Former WNBA Athlete Bridget Pettis, and three-time X-Games Gold Medalist Sarah Burke. This year’s Athlete of the Year will appear in the December issue of Compete, The Gay Sports Magazine.
Compete, The Gay Sports Magazine’s 2009 Athlete of the Year is sponsored by Orbitz, Desires Hotel at San Juan Water & Beach Club and Sidelines Sports Bar (Ft. Lauderdale).
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