Denver to host 2015 North America Outgames

The FGG congratulates its member Team Colorado, the lead organization for this bid.

(DENVER, COLORADO, USA) May 31, 2011: The Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association--North America (GLISA NA) formally announced that Denver, Colorado, USA has won the honor of hosting the 2015 North America Outgames. The official ceremony celebrating Denver as the next Host City will take place at the Closing Ceremonies of the 2011 North America Outgames in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Sunday July 30, 2011. The Denver Outgames 2015 Bid Committee (DOBC) will attend the Vancouver Outgames and also the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival on July 31, 2011.

“We could not be more excited or honored,” states DOBC Co-Chair R. Tony Smith. “This is a win for Denver, Colorado and the United States, and all I can say is, ‘Let’s Go Denver!’”

DOBC Co-Chair Sonya J. Lewis continues, “This is the time for Denver, and it was most evident with the ease of how much support we received from everyone here in Colorado: sport, culture, human rights and government entities, as well as elected officials. Our bid committee worked hard, and this feels amazing!”

The DOBC submitted the official bid (prospectus) to GLISA NA in February 2011, and hosted the GLISA NA site selection committee in early May 2011 as one of the final steps of the selection process. The visit consisted of trips to key Denver sights as well as cultural, lodging, and sporting venues. In celebration of the GLISA NA site selection committee visit, the DOBC released an official video aptly titled, “Let’s Go Denver!” The video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/DenverOutgames2015. Everyone is encouraged to share this video and to become a fan at http://www.Facebook.com/Denver2015.

Team Colorado, a 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella sports organization for the LGBT community, formed the "Denver Outgames 2015 Bid Committee" (DOBC) to lead Denver's efforts. This volunteer committee is spearheaded by Co-Chairs Sonya Jaquez Lewis and R. Tony Smith. The next steps for the DOBC include the logistical and legal evolution from Denver’s “bid committee” to “organizing committee”, as well as pending GLISA licensing discussions.

For more information on GLISA North America, visit http://www.glisanorthamerica.org/.