Official Gay Games VII DVD Now Available

Ceremonies, athletes, culture and the City of Chicago once again take center stage in full-length film

Just in time for the holiday gift season, the organizers of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago have released a feature-length DVD with more than two hours of coverage from the huge July sports & cultural festival. With national distribution by Wolfe Video, the DVD is available for sale for US$14.95 online at WolfeVideo.com.

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Team Chicago at Gay Games VII

Team Chicago members played an active role in supporting the first bid by Chicago 2006 and the second (successful) bid by Chicago Games Inc. to host Gay Games VII. We partnered with Chicago Games Inc. to sponsor the Federation’s annual meeting in Chicago in November of 2003. More than 1,200 Team Chicago members, 500 people in Team Chicago tee shirts, and 500 others from the Chicago area marched triumphantly into Soldier Field for the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games VII on July 15, 2006. We welcomed the world to Chicago, won hundreds of medals, and had a great time.

Opening Ceremony Was Colorful (and Hot)

The flaggers were one of the many visually interesting elements during Opening Ceremony.

DC athletes return from Chicago Gay Games with a Trove of Medals

Team DC, comprised of local sportsmen and women, returned from Chicago triumphant with more than 40 medals after Gay Games VII concluded on July 22, following a week of competition among varying levels of gay athletes.

“We did extremely well as a team,” says Brent Minor, president of Team DC and a board member of the Federation of Gay Games, the organizing group behind the event. “I feel good about Team DC’s performance.”

RealJock.com Article on Chicago Gay Games

Athletes shine at Gay Games Opening Ceremonies

By Jeff Titterton

Sure, an impressive parade of gay and gay-friendly stars came out to celebrate and perform at the opening of the seventh Gay Games—Megan Mullaly of "Will & Grace" fame, Erasure’s Andy Bell, and comedian Margaret Cho, among others—but the real stars of the show were the almost 12,000 athletes who made their way to Chicago’s Soldier Field last night to honor their home countries and local teams.

http://www.realjock.com/article/283/

My Fourth Gay Games

This is my fourth Games. The first in New York. The Seattle Men's Chorus was the guest of the New York Chorus, and we sang at Carnegie Hall. A member of the chorus who was a runner, Steve Bergland, told me I should register for the Games since they were during that same week. I had not ever heard of the Gay Games. I registered for the 5K road run and fortunately it was in the AM . Originally it was scheduled for the PM. We didn't know how we would make it to Carnegie in time to sing and be dressed in our tuxedo. We discussed dressing in a taxi as we road to the Hall. Fortunately, it was changed the week before the games to AM. I won a Gold medal and I wore my medal at the Concert that night. We had four standing ovations in our 40 minute concert. That was a thrill to walk on the that famous stage for the first time with my medal around my neck. I had been in the chorus only 3 years at that time. I just finished my 15th year last week. I have participated in every Games since then. I will also be in Montreal with my team. That day 24 June 1994, will be remembered for ever by me. Thanks for the opportunity to tell my story. I was 58 years old then.

Jerry Lewis - Seattle Frontrunners

Share Your Story about Gay Games VII

Is this your first Gay Games or your 7th Gay Games? Tell your story in your words. You are welcome to submit updates or email me to remove or change your story.

July 2006 Chicago, IL, USA

This is my first Gay Games. I am very excited. I was planning to attend for only a couple days and fly back to Seattle. I had the privilege to meet Paul Mart, one of the 3 co-founders of the Gay Games while he was in Seattle in June of 2005. He really made an impression on me about Tom Waddell's vision. Paul also charmed me and explained the entire weeks events that I could expect. I extended my stay to 9 days and entered 1 more event. I also started training, losing weight, getting faster. I ran the Seattle Masters Track Event July 8th and did a personal best at the 5000m race. I will be running the 10K race on Monday morning and the 5000m track event on Friday. You will see me at your events. Let the Games begin!

Kelly Stevens - Co-Chair Team Seattle - Seattle Frontrunners