Venue visits cap a successful 2009 Annual Meeting

If the Federation of Gay Games requests that the host of Gay Games organize its Annual Meeting in their city in the year prior to the Games, it is in large part to allow the delegates pressent to visit the venues planned for their sport and culture events, to express concerns and make suggestions, and to return to the organizations and communities they represent confident that next year's Games will be a success.

These tasks were carried out to the great satisfaction of all involved, both representatives from the FGG Board and Assembly, and the staff and volunteers of Games Cologne. Friday's visits focused on the Sportpark Muengersdorf, the site for the great majority of Gay Games VIII sports.



Sportpark Muengersdorf is a 14-minute tram ride from Rudolfplatz, in the heart of a major gay neighborhood, and the planned site for a Gay Games VIII village.


"Herding cats"


Annette Wachter describes the entry of participants into RheinEnergieStadion for Opening Ceremony.


In the Opening Ceremony configuration, RheinEnergieStadion has a capacity of 38,000.


Plans are not finalized, but Annette was able to provide a great deal of information about the potential of the RheinEnergieStadion.


Major renovation work is underway on the main swimming pool to make it compliant with international standards.


Work will be complete by March for this venue which will be used for Swimming and Pink Flamingo.


In the fields behind the RheinEnergieStadion is plenty of space for football pitches and temporary softball fields. In the rolling wooded area beyond, Mountain Bike and the Road Races will take place.


A bit of impromptu Beach Volleyball at the Playa in Colonia, with Games Cologne Volleyball sports manager Ludger, Fernando of MovdeinChile, and Michael and Bob from the Cleveland Synergy Foundation (Cleveland Synergy Foundation started out as an organization to promote and organize volleyball tournaments).


Andrea, Games Cologne manager for Martial Arts, presenting the beautiful venue for Martial Arts in Gay Games VIII.


The two indoor pools of the Swimming Center will host Synchronized Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo.


NetCologneStadion is a recently built venue to be used for Track and Field, and for Football finals.


The venue for Powerlifting was chosen because of its floor surface that won't be damaged by the movement of weights and other equipment used.


The main gymnasium can be divided as needed for Volleyball, Handball, Basketball, and other sports.

In addition to sport venues, they were able to visit some of the catering facilities, which include the Mensas, or student dining halls, which will offer meals for less than 5 euros during the Games. FGG representatives participating in the site visit were delighted with the venues they saw and the sports managers they were able to meet.