Cleveland SynergyFest

From Gay People's Chronicle:

The Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the organization whose successful bid will bring the Gay Games to northeast Ohio in 2014, illustrated their technical prowess from April 23 to 25 with SynergyFest, a three-day multiple-sport festival.

Volleyball, tennis, billiards and flag football were all represented in the first of a handful of “practice runs” for the Gay Games.

Cleveland Synergy Foundation board president Mike Readinger believes that, even though Clevelanders have the know-how to run big national events, it’s always helpful to be able to work out the kinks in advance. He pointed to volleyball, bowling and line-dancing tournaments and national conventions to illustrate the expertise Clevelanders bring to the table.

“SynergyFest was a fabulous success,” he said. “Essentially, what we were trying to do was rehearsing for the Gay Games. SynergyFest was created with the intent that we would be able to do these multiple-sports festivals, so when we get to the Gay Games, we’re not doing it for the first time.”

While putting on a festival with four sports represented, bringing in over 600 people, is no mean feat, the 2014 Gay Games are expected to bring in well over 10,000 people, with 34 sporting events and five major cultural events.

Continue reading HERE.

SynergyFest website HERE.