A history of bidding for the Gay Games

Site selection meeting, Cologne 2009

FGG Honorary Life Member has just published a history of bidding for the Gay Games on the IGLA website:

The site selection process for Gay Games X in 2018 is under way and final selection will take place next year. Already, expressions of interest to bid have been submitted from Limerick, London, Orlando, Paris and Rio de Janeiro ahead of the initial 15 July 2012 deadline.

The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) will send a Request for Proposal (RFP) to all city groups that meet the deadline. The RFP is the main bid document, outlining many of the requirements for hosting the Gay Games. Groups that are still interested in bidding after reviewing the RFP are invited to attend special information sessions at the FGG’s annual meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria over 19-22 August.

I will write more about the Federation’s site selection process in a future column – it is, after all, one of the group’s most important responsibilities every four years. For now, here is a brief timeline and look at the various city groups that have bid for past Gay Games.


1982 and 1986 – Gay Games I and II – San Francisco

Vancouver representatives were already in conversations at Gay Games I with San Francisco Arts & Athletics about hosting the event, but SFAA decided to hold the second edition again at home to improve some of the logistics issues. Vancouver stayed in close touch with SFAA, though, and at the closing ceremony of Gay Games II was announced as the next host.


Keep reading HERE.

A Tribute to Gay Games Bidders

A Tribute to Gay Games Bidders

On 29 September 2009, in Cologne, Germany, the General Assembly of the Federation of Gay Games will select the Host of Gay Games IX 2014. As this date approaches, we are reminded of the courage, efforts, and resources required by bidders to participate in the Gay Games Site Selection process.

Although it is a joyous occasion for the organisation selected to host the Gay Games, we recognise the disappointment felt by those not chosen, and heartily applaud all candidates for having believed in the Gay Games with the strength and passion required to bid and host this life-changing event. Beyond the bidders’ commitment to the Gay Games, we are particularly grateful for the increased visibility to LGBT sport and culture that their efforts have provided.

Over the last three decades, the Gay Games has been very fortunate to have had many bidders from all over the world step forward to participate in the Site Selection process. We believe that any of these bids would have resulted in a successful Gay Games, and are especially moved by those organisations that chose to return to the bidding process a second and third time with even better proposals.

Without the support of bidders, the Gay Games would not be the premier LGBT international multisport and cultural festival that we know today. Therefore, it seems only fitting to pay tribute to all Gay Games Bidders and to salute them for being key contributors to the almost 30-year Gay Games movement.

To show our appreciation to those who have heeded the call to "take the flame", we invite a representative from each of the past Gay Games Bidding Organisations to join us in Cologne on 31 July 2010, at the Gay Games VIII Opening Ceremony and VIP Reception. FGG will award a Gay Games Medal of Honour to each organisation as a token of our appreciation and gratitude. This award is not only for the efforts and sacrifice of bidders in support of the Gay Games movement, but also for their longstanding cooperation and loyalty over the years.

We will be in contact with each of the Bidding Organisations to provide more details. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you all in Cologne at GGVIII !

Emy Ritt & Kurt Dahl
On Behalf of FGG Board of Directors
eritt@gaygames.org, kdahl@gaygames.org

History of Gay Games Bidding
GG1-San Francisco (No bidding)
GG2-San Francisco (No bidding)
GG3-Vancouver (No bidding)
GG4-New York, Sydney
GG5-Amsterdam, Atlanta, Sydney
GG6-Dallas, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Montreal, Sydney, Toronto
GG7-Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal
GG8-Cologne, Johannesburg, Paris
GG9-Boston, Cleveland, Washington, D.C.

DC rally in "Metro Weekly" and "Washington Blade"

300 people attended a rally on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Washington, DC to support the city's bid for Gay Games IX.

In Metro Weekly...
...and in the Washington Blade

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Information on Gay Games IX bids is provided for information purposes only and implies no preference for any bid in particular.