Roger Brigham on the need for a single quadrennial LGBT sport and culture event

In Outsports, Roger Brigham gives insights into the project for a joint Gay Games/Outgames event:


When the FGG and GLISA recently announced that they had ended two years of talk on running a combined global sports and cultural festival in 2018, the wheels were set in motion for plans for Gay Games X to go forward, and critics predictably began to criticize both organizations and their failure to reach agreement.

Most of the criticism has been based on feelings, rather than fact; and some of it has bordered on counter-productive spite. I’d like to present my thoughts on this topic and my hopes for the future. I have been connected to the subject since it was first raised through my various roles since 2003 with the FGG, Team San Francisco, Wrestlers WithOut Borders and Golden Gate Wrestling Club. Before joining the FGG board late last season, I reported on the talks, events and organizations extensively. The thoughts I offer here are my own, not necessarily representative of the organizations with which I am involved.

Why is [a single quadrennial LGBT sport and culture event] not only desirable, but inevitable and even necessary?

Some things are too big to fail, but others are too big to fly. The bigger an event is, the more components and disciplines and participants it requires, and the greater and greater demands it places on its host for adequate mass transit, adequate accommodations, adequate facilities, and sufficient volunteers and other workers. The history of the Olympic Games (which take about 2.5 weeks to complete) and the Gay Games suggest a multi-sport festival maxes out at about 12,000 athletes and 30 to 40 disciplines. And the bigger it gets, the fewer cities capable of hosting it.

That is the range at which the original 1QE, maxed out in the years 1994 to 2006: the range sustainable by LGBT sports organizations and hosts alike.

The mainstream Olympic Games for elite athletes, through massive government underwriting, corporate sponsorship and television revenues, are just able to sustain that once every two years (Winter Olympics every two years; Summer Olympics in the other even numbered years). LGBT sports, drawing on a far smaller participatory population base and with a fraction of the government and sponsorship backing, are barely able to sustain that only once every four years — and even then only through the massive “sweat equity” put into it by the volunteer athletes and organizations who step up to help the hosts.

Keep reading HERE.

Statement from the Federation of Gay Games on 2018 event

In the last few days, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has heard from several parties about the cessation of discussions for a single global quadrennial sport and culture event (IQE) in 2018. We know that our friends from GLISA International have heard similar complaints.

As we have stated before, the FGG, mandated by our member organizations, remains committed to the goal of a single quadrennial event. Although the process launched in 2010 did not succeed, we believe a single event can happen, and will work to make it happen. We repeat our thanks to those involved who devoted a great deal of time and effort to move this project forward.

We have invited GLISA International to discuss ways to be part of our Gay Games X event, and to begin talks on a merger of our organizations as the best way to achieve the goal of 1QE.

As always, we invite all interested parties to join the FGG to be part of this ongoing process. Join the organizations involved to make your voice heard louder. Work as volunteers on our committees to shape future Gay Games.

We also take this opportunity to thank the many groups that have expressed an interest in bidding for Gay Games X. We strongly believe that the Gay Games have demonstrated over the past three decades their contribution to progress for LGBT equality. Bidders and hosts are key players in making this happen. We know that all those truly devoted to the cause of LGBT sport and culture will support these bidders and the host of Gay Games X selected at our AGA in Cleveland, Ohio in late 2013, and of course join us in Cleveland+Akron from 9-16 August 2014 for Gay Games 9, for which registration has just opened.

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FGG press release on end of negotiations HERE.

Information for bidding on Gay Games X: 2018.gaygames.org

Registration for Gay Games 9: www.gg9cle.com

FGG, GLISA suspend project for joint event

Shamey Cramer (FGG),  Dennis Sneyers (FGG),  Wessel van Kampen (GLISA),  Julia Applegate (GLISA), Nelson Lee (GLISA),
Klaus Heusslein (FGG), Daniel Vaudrin (GLISA) represented their organizations at the weekend's meeting hosted by Fierté Montréal Pride.
Also participating were Kurt Dahl for the FGG and legal counsel for both organizations.

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Contact:
Roger Brigham, FGG Board Member At-Large
rbrigham@gaygames.org
+1-510-868-1760

Kurt Dahl, FGG Co-President
kdahl@gaygames.org

FGG, GLISA suspend project for joint event
Goal was a single Gay Games - Outgames event in 2018

San Francisco, CA – (10 May 2012) During the weekend of 5-6 May 2012, representatives of the boards of the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) met in Montreal with the goal of approving a memorandum of understanding for the organization of a joint event in 2018 bringing together the Gay Games and the World Outgames. Such an agreement was not reached by the weekend’s deadline and a subsequent three-day extension.

This was to be the final step in a process that began over two years ago to respond to the desire of stakeholders to provide a single quadrennial LGBT sports and cultural event. “This was a noble effort by both the FGG and GLISA to identify the best way to hold our sports and cultural festivals along with a human rights component in a single combined event for all our constituents,” said FGG Co-President Kurt Dahl.

“We understand each other better,” said Dahl. “Numerous common goals were identified as well as the differences in operations and missions of the two organizations. But ultimately we concluded a mutually satisfactory agreement cannot be reached in time for the 2018 event cycle.”

Great progress was made, including during the Montreal meetings. The parties had reached agreement on issues such as the division of voting rights, governance for site selection and host relations, the time and location of the joint site selection meeting, and even the name of the joint event. The FGG has achieved significant support from its membership on these issues, notably through a series of information and discussion sessions at its most recent annual general assembly held in Toronto in October 2011. There remained, however, significant outstanding issues. These included the financial burden placed on the host. The current Gay Games model has financial risk being shared between the FGG and the host organization, and the FGG board believes it is important to maintain this principle.

Another was the FGG’s belief that the best way for individuals to make an informed choice when voting for site selection is to be physically present at the selection meeting.

A final offer for the proposed combined 2018 event was made in Montreal by the FGG the afternoon of 6 May but was not accepted by GLISA at the end of the extension they proposed.

The FGG hopes to pursue a working relationship with GLISA and discuss the possibility of the organizations merging.

The process of choosing the host of Gay Games X in 2018, previously delayed so as to offer every chance for reaching agreement on a single event, will begin immediately with the publication of a Request For Information (RFI) to be followed by the beginning of July 2012 with a Request For Proposals (RFP).

The host for the 2018 Gay Games will be named in 2013 at the FGG’s site selection and annual general assembly meeting in Cleveland, host of Gay Games 9 in 2014.

For information about the Federation of Gay Games, visit www.gaygames.org.

The ninth edition of the quadrennial Gay Games will be held in Cleveland + Akron, OH August 9-16, 2014. For information about Gay Games IX Cleveland 2014, visit www.2014gaygamescleveland.com.


Read all blog posts on this project for a single quadrennial event HERE.
 
About The Federation of Gay Games:
The international Federation of Gay Games is the governing body the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 - 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 - 7,300 participants), New York (1994 - 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 - 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 - 11,000 participants), Chicago (2006 - 11,700 participants), and Cologne, (2010 – 10,000 participants). Gay Games IX will be held in Cleveland, OH 9-16 August 2014.

“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. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.

FGG Annual General Assembly: Day 3

Today is the third day of the FGG's Annual General Assembly in Toronto.

Yesterday opened with a new feature of FGG AGAs, a "meet the candidates" forum prior to elections of board offices that will take place first thing this morning.

Following this forum, in which delegates had a first chance to question new candidates Sonya Lewis (Team Colorado), who is running for Officer for Communication, and Shamey Cramer (IGLA), who is running for Officer for Ceremonies, our last host, Games Cologne, and our next host, CSEC, made their reports to the Assembly.

Games Cologne

Delegates applauded Cologne for Gay Games VIII, noting the excellent sport events, the great village, and outstanding volunteers. The Assembly was impressed by the status report from Cologne, and in particular the hiring of sports manager Rob Smitherman. After delays due to the legal issues surrounding the event, Cleveland+Akron are ready to launch.

Interim chair of CSEC David Gilbert, executive director Tom Nobbe, and Valarie McCall of the Cleveland Mayor's office

The afternoon opened with more committee meetings (technology and development), and another session on  the future 2018 event.

Today the main business of the FGG will take place, with elections and voting on various motions.

Elaios were ratified as new members, to the applause of the assembly. The morning also saw the first of several sessions devoted to the project for a single event in 2018, in the presence of Wessel Van Kaloampen, co-president of GLISA, who made the trip from the Netherlands to meet with the more than 60 FGG delegates, board m

Day 2 of the FGG Annual General Assembly

Today is the second day of the FGG's Annual General Assembly in Toronto.

At yesterday's opening session, Outsport Toronto and Elaios were ratified as new members, to the applause of the assembly. The morning also saw the first of several sessions devoted to the project for a single event in 2018, in the presence of Wessel Van Kampen, co-president of GLISA, who made the trip from the Netherlands to meet with the more than 60 FGG delegates, board members, and volunteers gathered in Toronto.

The afternoon saw the first committee meetings, those of external affairs and culture, and a large gathering for sports committee, at which delegates met Rob Smitherman, the newly hired sports director for Gay Game 9. Rob is a familiar face to FGG people, as a sports manager for some particularly challenging sports at Gay Games VII in Chicago, and assistant sports manager in Cologne for Gay Games VIII.

Today's schedule includes more committee meetings (technology and development), more 1QE discussions, and reports from our last host in Cologne and our next host in Cleveland. At the end of the day, the public reception will take place at Woody's bar, during which the FGG will present its 2011 Awards to people such as Angela James and Brian Burke.

Progress report on a single quadrennial event in 2018 (1QE 2018)

1QE 2018 - Update - July 2011
The following is an update on the progress of the 1QE 2018 Working Group.

Objective
The overall goal of the 1QE 2018 Working Group is to prepare the RFP (Request for Proposal) Document to be used by potential 1QE 2018 bidders. Since December, 2010, the FGG and GLISA International Co-Presidents met various times via teleconference to set up an initial meeting schedule and project plan. The full 1QE Working Group first met for the first time on 29 January 2011, and several meetings have been held since. Targeted discussions have taken place on the following topics: Overall Vision, Governance, Event Name, Sports, Culture, Human Rights, and Ceremonies.

2011 Civil Courage Award from Berlin Pride
On 26 June 2011, the Co-Presidents of FGG and GLISA International were awarded the 2011 Civil Courage Award by the Berlin Pride organization for their work on 1QE 2018. As stated in Berlin, we humbly accepted this award as a call to action to continue our work together for 1QE in 2018 and beyond.

Next Steps
The preliminary timeline below reflects the 1QE Working Group’s goal of presenting a draft RFP in September to the members of both organizations for initial review. The aim is to have Board and membership approval by end October 2011 and to publish the final 2018 RFP on websites and blogs.

Preliminary Timeline - subject to change
The following timeline outlines the target dates for deliverables to members and stakeholders.

Target Date	Action
11/2011	Publish 2018 RFP to public websites and blogs
03/2012	Deadline for Letter of Intent from 2018 Bidders
09-11/2012 (TBD)	Information Session for 2018 Bidders
01/2013	Deadline to submit 2018 Bid
03/2013	Short List of Bidders established
06/2013	Site Inspections
09/2013	2018 Bidder Presentations & Vote to select 2018 Host

Updates to the 1QE 2018 process will be published on a regular basis.
For any questions, contact: info-1qe-2018@googlegroups.com.

FGG and GLISA have been awarded the 2011 Civil Courage Award by Berlin Pride

FGG and GLISA have been awarded the 2011 Civil Courage Award (Zivilcouragepreis) given by the Berlin Pride Association (Berliner Christopher Street Day eV).

The Civil Courage Award was first introduced in 2001 and has since been presented annually
to people or organizations that have furthered the cause of LGBT equality. The Civil Courage Award is an expression of acknowledgment for the achievements and work of these individuals and organizations. The Pride Board has selected both the Federation of Gay Games and GLISA International, and in particular, their current Co-Presidents, as Civil Courage Award laureates 2011 of the Berlin Pride Association.

Walter-Ahrens

Also honored will be Tanja Walter-Ahrens, who has worked on the fight against homophobia within the German Football Federation, and as the representative of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation to the Football Against Racism in Europe initiative.

The Pride Board honors the Co-presidents Emy Ritt, Kurt Dahl, Julia Applegate and Wessel van Kampen for their courage, their openness and their foresight to recognize the wish of the global sport community to combine resources and have one global event in 2018. The Civil Courage Award expresses our admiration and hopefully supports the process in the long run. The joint appearance of GLISA and FGG Co-Presidents will evoke emotions all over the world and will set a mark for hopes for a reunited community.

The prize stands for courage, perseverance, but also determination and vision.

The Pride Board honors GLISA International for their success in developing continental LGBT associations built after the model of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, alongside their World Outgames.

The Pride Board honors FGG, as the pioneer in international LGBT sporting activities. Since Gay Games I in 1982, hundreds of sport groups and clubs have been founded, a development that continues stronger than ever. FGG has built a unique community of LGBT sport groups from all over the world to carry forward and expand the legacy of the Gay Games.

Dahl, Ritt, Applegate, Van Kampen

FGG Co-President Emy Ritt (Paris, France) responded: "We are very pleased to accept this honour as a call to continued action towards our common goal of One Quadrennial Event in 2018. To have 'Sport' as the theme of this year's Berlin Civil Courage Award, as Germany hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup, is also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that sports can change the world."

Kurt Dahl (Chicago, USA), the male Co-President of the Federation, added: "We are touched by this honor, which will be an opportunity to thank the Berlin LGBT community for their commitment to building bridges. Our hope is that all sports and culture organizations will work together toward our shared goals of fighting homophobia and empowering gay and lesbian athletes and artists as we work together towards One Quadrennial Event in 2018."

The 2011 Civil Courage Award will be presented to the Co-Presidents of FGG and GLISA during a ceremony on the main stage of the PRIDE FINALE at the famous Brandenburg Gate on 25 June 2011.

FGG and GLISA establish 2018 One Quadrennial Event Working Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kelly Stevens, FGG Officer of Communications, kstevens@gaygames.org, +1 206-446-6983

FGG and GLISA establish 2018 One Quadrennial Event Working Group
GLISA International (GLISA) and the Federation of Gay Games (FGG)
embark on a collaborative event in 2018.


San Francisco – (10 December 2010) The Federation of Gay Games General Assembly has voted to select 5 people to represent the Federation of Gay Games along with the Federation Co-Presidents Emy Ritt (Paris) and Kurt Dahl (Chicago). These 7 will work together with 7 people representing GLISA on a working group to begin work on with a goal of One Quadrennial Event in 2018.

FGG Co-President Kurt Dahl (Chicago) stated: “The international community has asked all parties to work toward a single quadrennial event. With GLISA, we established a 1QE 2018 Working Group to assist us in reaching this objective. We know the task at hand is difficult, but we are confident that this group can create what the community wants us to create: a single event in 2018”.

Julia Applegate, GLISA International Chair (Columbus), added: “A key goal of this group will be to determine the content of the event, subject to the approval of both FGG and GLISA. Gay Games and Outgames have a rich history to draw from in defining the shape of the 2018 event.”

The FGG members of the 1QE Working Group were selected by FGG after extensive consultation with the worldwide LGBT community. FGG representatives were elected by the full FGG General Assembly.

Emy Ritt, FGG Co-President observed: “Members of this working group come from various parts of the world, reflecting the global focus we all want to see in 2018. The event will be comprised of Sport, Culture and Human Rights, and will reflect our combined legacies and best practices.”

Wessel van Kampen, GLISA International Vice-Chair stated: “The timeline for our organisations is tight, but realistic. We also know that we need to keep the end result in mind: this is the first of a series of quadrennial global events that will unite our community - in 2018 and beyond!”

Under the auspices of both the FGG and GLISA Boards, the 1QE Working Group will commence its work as soon as possible and will provide status and progress reports to the FGG and GLISA Boards and membership, as well as to the community and interested partners.

The following FGG representatives to the 1QE 2018 Working Group were elected by the full FGG General Assembly:

Emy Ritt – Paris, France
Kurt Dahl – Chicago, USA
Paul Oostenbrug – Chicago, USA
Martyn Pickup – Berlin, Germany
Leigh-Ann Naidoo – Cape Town, South Africa
Kelly Stevens – Seattle, USA
Jon Baldan – Sydney, Australia


The following people will represent GLISA in the 1QE 2018 Working Group:

Julia Applegate – Columbus, USA
Wessel van Kampen – Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Lin McDevitt-Pugh – Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Thomas K Dolan – Vancouver, Canada
Sumit Baugh – New Delhi, India
Kevin Haunui – Wellington, New Zealand
Gloria Careaga – Mexico City, Mexico


The ninth edition of the quadrennial Gay Games will be held in Cleveland + Akron, OH August 9-16, 2014. For information about Gay Games IX Cleveland 2014, visit www.gaygames.org.

For information about the Federation of Gay Games, visit www.gaygames.org.

For information about GLISA, visit www.glisa.org.


Additional biographies and photos are available upon request.

About The Federation of Gay Games:
The international Federation of Gay Games is the governing body the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 - 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 - 7,300 participants), New York (1994 - 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 - 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 - 11,000 participants), Chicago (2006 - 11,700 participants), and Cologne, (2010 – 10,000 participants). Gay Games IX will be held in Cleveland, OH 9-16 August 2014.

“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. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.

First vote on Joint Working Group complete

With thanks to Team Berlin (www.teamberlin.de)

A preliminary vote on the composition of the Federation of Gay Games delegation to a Joint Working Group with GLISA International is now complete. The nearly 100 voting members of the Federation of Gay Games General Assembly have strongly supported a proposal from the FGG Board of Directors to include the FGG co-presidents as part of the Federation's delegation.

A second vote opens today, to choose the five members of the delegation from among the 23 candidates who have applied. These candidates, men and women from five continents, are all keen to be part of this Joint Working Group that has the goal of determining the road map toward a single quadrennial event to begin in 2018.

This vote will be open through the end of November, by which time both the FGG and GLISA will have chosen the members of their delegations.

24 candidates for "One Quadrennial Event in 2018" joint working group

With thanks to Team Berlin (www.teamberlin.de)

A key outcome of ongoing discussions between the Federation of Gay Games and GLISA about the future of LGBT sports and culture events was the decision to set up a joint working group to move forward the project of a single event in 2018.

To choose its members to this group, the FGG called for applications, with a deadline of October 28. The FGG is extremely pleased with the number of applicants (24), their qualifications, and the diversity they represent in terms of experience, background, and skills.

In the coming days the FGG General Assembly will be voting to choose the FGG members of this group from among these candidates. The FGG members will serve staggered six-month terms on the working group.

We warmly thank all candidates for their interest and willingness to serve.

Call for applications: 2018 "One Quadrennial Event" working group

with thanks to Team Berlin (teamberlin.de)

The Federation of Gay Games Assembly and Board of Directors voted on 8 August 2010 to begin a process of collaboration with GLISA to create a single quadrennial event in 2018.

The exact nature of this event is to be determined by a joint working group composed of seven members from each organisation, FGG and GLISA, under the auspices and approval of both organisations' boards and general assembly. FGG board and assembly approval is required for any subsequent bylaw changes.

SEEKING CANDIDATES: The Federation of Gay Games is seeking 5 Gay Games advocates and leaders in sports and culture to serve on this committee. The application should include all relevant sports, culture, and professional skills. Applications are open to all members of the worldwide LGBT community, includng past and present FGG board of directors, assembly members, honorary lifetime members, and volunteers for the Gay Games. The work will include voice and video teleconferences, and a some travel to meetings.

This is an open process and all interested parties are welcome and encouraged to apply to participate in this important working group. The applications will be reviewed by the Federation of Games and 5 people will be elected by a vote of the Federation of Gay Games general assembly using the instant runoff election method .

Help shape our future. For the application and details of the 2018 1QE Working Group, click HERE.

DEADLINE: Completed applications must be submitted by 28 October 2010 to eritt@gaygames.org and kdahl@gaygames.org or posted to FGG’s Intranet in the General Assembly Forum, 1QE thread.

Auf Deutsch / En français / FGG Board of Directors affirms support for a single event in 2018

Co-presidents Kurt Dahl, & Emy Ritt (FGG), Julia Applegate & Wessel van Kampen (GLISA)*

(German version HERE and French version HERE)

San Francisco – (17 March 2010) The Federation of Gay Games board would like to issue these statements with joy and unanimous support from the board of directors.

Following a meeting of the Co-Presidents of the Federation of Gay Games and GLISA on 5 March 2010, in Manchester, UK, to discuss the future of worldwide LGBT sport and culture, the FGG Board affirms that one quadrennial event in 2018 is our goal.

Sports, Culture, and Human Rights will be components of the 2018 event, as they have been in the past.

We see a number of steps needed to move in this direction. The FGG's priority is a successful Gay Games VIII, to which GLISA has been invited to participate. After Cologne, more discussions and collaboration are needed between the two organizations and the members and communities which we all represent. A joint working group will be set up between the two organizations to continue the discussions required to carry out our intended goal of one quadrennial event in 2018.

We recognize that this is an important step to ensure that the legacy of global LGBT sports and culture continues to flourish.

With regard to the above statement, FGG co-president Kurt Dahl (Chicago) expressed his gratitude to the Board of Directors of the FGG, who recognized the important progress accomplished in Manchester as part of the ongoing process of discussions held between the two organizations with input from our members and the wider community: “We have heard the calls for a single quadrennial event and sought to achieve this goal to better serve our mission of promoting equality. We look forward to the first step in this new chapter, with the presence of GLISA at Gay Games VIII, which has received the enthusiastic support from our host organization, Games Cologne.”

Co-presidents Emy Ritt & Kurt Dahl (FGG), Julia Applegate & Wessel van Kampen (GLISA)*

Der Vorstand der Gay Games verspricht ein einziges LGBT-Event für das jahr 2018

Die FGG bestätigt ihr Objektiv eines gemeinsamen, alle 4 Jahre stattfindenden Events.

San Francisco – (17. März 2010) Der Vorstand der internationalen Federation of Gay Games –unter Einstimmigkeit all ihrer Mitglieder- freut sich bekanntzugeben:

Im Anschluss an eine Versammlung der Co-Präsidenten von FGG und GLISA am 5. März 2010 in Manchester/UK, bei der über die weltweite Zukunft von LGBT-Sport & Kultur diskutiert wurde, bestätigt der Vorstand, dass ab 2018 die Organisation eines einzigen, alle 4 Jahre stattfindenden Events angestrebt wird.

Sport, Kultur und Menschenrechtsfragen werden auch 2018 hauptsächliche Komponenten der Veranstaltungen sein, wie das schon in der Vergangenheit der Fall war.

Zur Erreichung unseres Zieles sind eine gewisse Anzahl von Etappen notwendig.

Augenblickliche Priorität der FGG ist das Gelingen der Gay Games in Köln; die GLISA wurde zur Teilnahme eingeladen.

Anschliessend an Köln sollen zwischen den beiden Organisationen, sowie den Mitgliedern und Gemeinschaften, die wir jeweils vertreten, weitere Gespräche und eine aktive Zusammenarbeit stattfinden.

Eine gemeinsame Arbeitsgruppe, bestehend aus Mitgliedern beider Organisationen, macht sich zum Ziel, die für die Realisierung unseres für 2018 geplanten Objektivs einer einzigen, gemeinsamen, je vierjährigen Veranstaltung unerlässlichen Diskussionen zu führen.

Zweifellos ist dies ein bedeutender Schritt für die Erhaltung, die Kontinuität und den Erfolg der LGBT-Kultur und des LGBT-Sports weltweit.

Bezügl. des obigen Beschlusses drückte FGG Co-Präsident Kurt Dahl (Chicago) dem Vorstand der FGG seine Dankbarkeit aus. Er hob den entscheidenden Fortschritt in Manchester heraus als Teil eines kontinuierlichen Gesprächsprozesses zwischen den beiden Organisationen, unter Einbeziehung von Beiträgen ihrer Mitglieder und der Community: “Wir haben den Wunsch nach einem einzigen, alle vier Jahre stattfindenden Event vernommen und uns die Frage gestellt, wie wir unserer Mission für mehr Gleichheit besser gerecht werden können. Wir freuen uns auf den ersten Schritt, auf dieses neue Kapitel, beginnend mit der Teilnahme der GLISA an den Gay Games VIII, welche von unserem Gastgeber, den Games Cologne, enthusiastisch begrüsst wurde.

FGG co-presidents Kurt Dahl & Emy Ritt*

Le Conseil d’administration de la Fédération internationale des Gay Games affirme son soutien pour une manifestation unique

La FGG s’engage sur l’objectif d’une seule manifestation sportive et culturelle quadriennale en 2018.


San Francisco – (17 mars 2010) Le Conseil d’administration de la Fédération internationale des Gay Games (FGG) a l’immense plaisir de faire la déclaration suivante, qui a reçu le soutien unanime de ses administrateurs.

A la suite de la rencontre du 5 mars 2010 à Manchester (Royaume-Uni) des co-présidents de la Fédération internationale des Gay Games et la GLISA, destinée à discuter de l’avenir du sport et de la culture LGBT dans le mode, le Conseil d’administration de la FGG affirme qu’il vise la tenue d’une seule manifestation quadriennale à partir de 2018.

Le sport, la culture, et les droits de l’homme seront des composants de cette manifestation de 2018, comme ils l’ont été par le passé.

Nous voyons un certain nombre d’étapes critiques pour parvenir à ce but.

La priorité actuelle de la FGG est la réussite des Gay Games VIII, auxquels la GLISA a été invitée de participer.

A la suite de ces jeux, de plus amples discussions et collaborations seront nécessaires entre les deux organisations et les membres des communautés que nous représentons.

Un groupe de travail conjoint sera mis en place par les deux organisations pour entreprendre les discussions requises pour réaliser notre objectif commun d’une manifestation unique en 2018.

Nous reconnaissons que ceci représente un pas important pour assurer la poursuite et la continuité de l’héritage du mouvement sportif et culturel LGBT mondial.

A propos de la déclaration ci dessus, Kurt Dahl (Chicago) co-président de la FGG, a exprimé sa gratitude envers le Conseil d'administration de la FGG, qui a reconnu le progrès important réalisé à Manchester comme la suite logique du processus de discussions entamé entre les deux organisations, avec les contributions de nos organisations membres et la communauté en général. "Nous avons entendu les appels pour une manifestation quadriennale unique, avons tenté de réaliser cet objectif afin de mieux respecter notre mission de promouvoir l'égalité. Nous anticipons avec plaisir le premier pas dans ce nouveau chapitre, avec la présence de GLISA aux Gay Games VIII, ce qui a reçu un soutien enthousiaste de notre comité d'organisation Games Cologne.

*Photos Manchester Pride Sports

The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture - 2 October 2009

Summary
“The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture”
09:30 – 12:30, 2 October 2009
Cologne, Germany

Moderator: Darl Schaaff, with assistance from Martyn Pickup
40 Participants: See Annex 1

- Ground Rules:
o Darl Schaaff (FGG former Site Selection Officer and current Ceremonies Officer) led the meeting, with assistance from Martyn Pickup, and requested that everyone listen and speak with respect.

- Introductions by all

- At the end of the meeting, Team Berlin presented an open letter to FGG and GLISA, which will be posted on the FGG Intranet with other open letters received during the last year.

Review of actions to date
- Emy Ritt presented a summary of actions to date and reported on several positive exchanges between FGG and GLISA leadership. Both organizations have acknowledged each other’s contributions to the LGBT community. See annex 2 for more detail.

o Summary of Copenhagen session, 27 July 2009, “The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture”
See Annex 2, 3, and 4.

o Dialogue between FGG and GLISA
§ Teleconference on 27 August, 2009
§ Meeting in Brussels on 29 August, 2009 – See Annex 5.

o Future opportunities for continued dialogue include:
§ On-going teleconferences and meetings to be scheduled
§ March 2010 – Manchester, UK - EGLSF AGA
§ July 2010 – Cologne, Germany – Gay Games VIII

Discussion:
- Darl Schaaff presented an overview of organisational structures and typical evolutions of organisations, with a focus on LGBT clubs and teams, including regional and national development. It was pointed out that while many clubs took different paths and started from different directions, the end result was a common framework.

- Group discussion took place regarding potential components of a quadrennial event:
o Sports
o Culture
o Conference

SHOULD THERE BE A CONFERENCE COMPONENT?
- Participants discussed a conference component.

- Some participants mentioned that the size and scope of a conference would need to be closely managed and that resources would need to be considered for such a large component.

- A comparison was made between Culture and Conference components. The Culture component was added some years after the start of Gay Games and is now an important aspect of the event. Participants mentioned that changes in any event are to be expected based on changes in the LGBT community and the world at large, and are often evolutionary. Therefore, adding a formal conference component would be another example of such an evolutionary change.

- Some participants noted that they would like to attend conferences, but they are usually busy with sports.

- Some participants noted that they would be open to attending a conference during their sporting event if they did not have to pay an additional fee.

- Some participants noted the need to outsource a Human Rights conference due to lack of resources in the organizing teams.

- Participants noted that conferences often serve as a “cover” for those needing a non-LGBT reason for attending, for example, for athletes from countries where homosexuality is illegal and life-threatening.

- Participants also noted that conferences often provide an opportunity for funding.
o HIVOS (http://www.hivos.nl/english) provided funding to Outgames human rights conference
o Many businesses will donate towards a conference rather than a sporting event.

Break

STRENGTHS OF ORGANISATIONS
- Participants discussed the strengths of FGG and GLISA, as mentioned in the introduction and as discussed by Wessel and Emy on 29 August 2009. See Annex 5.
o FGG: Sports and Culture
o GLISA: Conferences and Regional Events


ORGANISATION OF A CONFERENCE COMPONENT
- Some participants asked who would own a conference. Is there a need to “own” or “control” the conference?

- Some participants felt that the conference component should be outsourced.

- Some participants felt that FGG should control the content of a potential conference component.

- Some participants felt that another group of experts would or should do this work.

- The dual expressions of “need to control” vs. “need to outsource” appeared to be contradictory.

- There was a suggestion for FGG to possibly license out or outsource the conference to be able to oversee the content, rather than letting a conference organizer decide unilaterally the content. Due to the predominantly LGBT audience at such an event, this seemed necessary by some participants to avoid anti-LGBT content.

- Some participants asked if there were no conference, who or what would motivate scholars to research, write and further educate the world community regarding LGBT Sport and Culture Events and the Gay Games core values, mission and success?

o Example: LGBT sport and culture scholars
§ Caroline Symons, Caroline.Symons@vu.edu.au published works on Gay Games history.
See http://www.amazon.fr/Gay-Games-History-Caroline-Symons/dp/0415472962 .
See also http://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/our-people/caroline-symons

§ Philip Liotard, liotard@univ-lyon1.fr, who organized the FGG Conference on « Sport, identités, homosexualités, homophobie » in Lyon, France, on 1 December 2006. See: http://www.liens-socio.org/article.php3?id_article=1665


§ Sylvain Ferez, sferez@univ-ag.fr,
« Homophobie et structuration des jeux sportifs homosexuels »
See: http://corpsetculture.revues.org/personne837.html?type=auteur

- Some participants expressed concern that sports with a smaller number of participants would be eliminated if the quadrennial event expanded to include a conference component.

- Building on the acknowledged strengths of FGG and GLISA and recognizing the apparent consensus to have one quadrennial event as soon as possible, participants were asked to consider the possibility of a quadrennial event with sport and culture components organised by FGG and with a conference component organised by GLISA.



WHAT SHOULD THE FUTURE DIRECTION BE and WHAT SHOULD A QUADRENNIAL EVENT LOOK LIKE?

Participants were asked to reflect on the future direction of LGBT sport and culture and to reflect on what a quadrennial event might look like in the future; with components and aspects of such an event (text below was taken directly from flipchart – no editing):

Direction
1 quadrennial event
Health and wellness
Continental Associations
International Sponsors
Regional Conference
Cooperation vs. antagonism
Conference with outreach at quadrennial event
Flexible host organisation
Relationship with national/government bodies
Harmony with LGBT Sports organisations
Media with international coverage
Partnership with GLISA and other qualified partners
Sports and Cultural component
Affordable and outsourcing
Relationship with political institutions
Capacity and capability building
Partnership with business
Financial stability
Outreach – global diversity


Summary:
The consensus appeared to indicate support for one quadrennial event with sport, culture, and conference components
o Organised with qualified partners
o With support from business and international media


Next Steps:
FGG and GLISA will discuss and review the results of the latest session and report back to the community.


ANNEXES:
List of Participants, Cologne session, 2 October 2009
Message to Participants of Copenhagen session on 27 July 2009
Summary of Copenhagen session on 27 July 2009
List of Participants, Copenhagen Conference, 27 July 2009
Summary of FGG-GLISA meeting on 29 August 2009


For any comments or questions, feel free to contact eritt@gaygames.org or kdahl@gaygames.org .