There's not just one kind of athlete

Thanks to Keph Senett for pointing us to this post that references a photo shoot of a variety of athletes from different sports.

It points out the diversity in body types, a subject dear to us at the FGG. In our guidelines for sports programs, based on our 30-odd "core sports", we offer flexibility for hosts while attempting to ensure that the Gay Games suit the needs and ability of a wide variety of athletes. Body type is a big part of this concern, as is the variety of types of athletic ability: endurance, speed, coordination, etc.

View all the photos HERE.

Federation of Gay Games announces results of first phase of Gay Games X site selection

Contact: Dennis Snyers, Officer, Site Selection, Federation of Gay Games
Email: fggbids@gaygames.org


Federation of Gay Games announces results of first phase of Gay Games X site selection
Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo qualified to bid.

San Francisco, CA - (18 July 2012) The international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) announced today the results of the first phase of bidding for Gay Games X. Seven cities on three continents expressed an interest in bidding by submitting a response to FGG’s Request for Information. Among those responding were the first potential bids from Latin America.

The seven cities are: Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers expressed the pleasure of the FGG in receiving so many expressions of interest, and of such high quality: “The FGG has never received seven expressions of interest, and these RFI responses go well beyond a simple expression of interest. This is the first time we have used a preliminary step of a Request for Information, and we are very satisfied with this procedure which allows for potential bidders to learn more about what the process entails. Bidding is long, demanding, and has a cost that any interested party needs to take into account. After a review of the responses, we consider that all bidders are able to continue the bidding process.”

FGG co-president Kurt Dahl added: “We consider the choice of a host for the Gay Games one of the Federation’s most important tasks. We wish the bidding groups courage as they take the next steps in this process. Only three of these groups will make it to the site selection meeting in late 2013 in Cleveland, the host of the next edition of the Gay Games in 2014 [www.gg9cle.com], where FGG member organizations will choose one of them as the host of Gay Games X.”

The next step in the process is the release of the Request for Proposal document which details the requirements for bidders’ documents, which will be due in February 2013. Sneyers noted: “We are confident that we will have the satisfying and challenging task of choosing among a number of highly qualified bidders. We will have a first contact with bidders at our annual general assembly in August in Sofia, Bulgaria, where potential bidders have been invited to attend an information session.”

View the bidders’ responses and follow news of Gay Games X bidding at http://2018.gaygames.org.

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 9-16 August , 2014. For information about Gay Games 9, Cleveland 2014, visit www.gg9cle.com.

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.

First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon

San Francisco – 2 July 2012

CONTACT:
Federation of Gay Games: Dennis Sneyers; dsneyers@gaygames.org


First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon
Five expressions of interest to date ahead of 15 July deadline


With less than two weeks to the first deadline in the process for bidding for Gay Games X, five expressions of interest have already been received by the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG). The organizations cover three continents, with groups in Orlando, Rio de Janeiro, Limerick, London, and Paris indicating they are pursuing a bid. The deadline for submission of RFI (request for information) documents is 15 July, with a first review of potential bidders to be complete by the end of this month.

Gay Games X will take place in 2018, with the site selection vote taking place in 2013 in Cleveland, the host city of Gay Games 9 in August 2014 (www.gg9cle.com).

FGG Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) explains: “This is the first time we have used an RFI. We added this step mainly because we wanted to give every chance for a joint event in 2018 to be managed by the FGG and GLISA. This would have had an impact on our primary bid document, the RFP (request for proposal). While we finalize that RFP document, in order to allow bidding organizations time to start their work, we provided an RFI that outlines the main features of the event and the information for which we’ll be asking.”

FGG co-president Kurt Dahl (Chicago) expressed his pleasure at the response so far: “We will know which cities are truly interested in a few more days, but the groups already expressing an interest offer a great choice. We urge any cities considering a bid to submit the RFI document on time, so as to remain in consideration. Time is running out to express interest in hosting the largest international sports and culture festival in the world open to all.”

Sneyers spoke of the key events that would follow the RFI review: “Bidders will receive our Request For Proposal (RFP), and later, a series of appendices that complete the document, including the Red Books for Sport, Culture and Ceremonies. These documents provide detailed guidelines, recommendations, and requirements for the components of Gay Games X. We invite members of these organizations to join us at our Annual General Assembly 19-22 August in Sofia, Bulgaria where we will hold an information session. Early in 2013, bidders will submit their bid documents describing their plans for Gay Games X, with short-listed bidders receiving visits from FGG site inspectors in August. And of course, the big moment will come towards the end of 2013 when the FGG member organizations will meet in Cleveland to choose the host for Gay Games X.”

RFI documents and background information may be found online at 2018.gaygames.org.

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About The Federation of Gay Games: The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates 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, Germany (2010 – 9,500 participants). Gay Games 9 will take place in Cleveland + Akron Ohio USA 9 – 16 August 2014. Visit www.2014GayGamesCleveland.com for more information.

“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.

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

New address for Gay Games X 2018 bidding website

The dedicated Gay Games X bidding website has a new easy-to-remember address:
2018.gaygames.org.

Share it!

Bidding opens for Gay Games X

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

Dennis Sneyers, FGG Officer for Site Selection
FGGBids@gaygames.org -- tel +1-773-531-4290

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Request For Information issued for Gay Games X
Prospective bidders for hosting 2018 event are invited to express their interest

San Francisco, CA – (15 May 2012) The international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has announced the launch of bidding for Gay Games X in 2018 with the publication of a Request For Information (RFI) document. It is now available to prospective bidding organisations, who will have until mid-July 2012 to respond.

The RFI document, available online at gaygames.wordpress.com, outlines the work involved in putting on the Gay Games Sports and Cultural festival and asks for preliminary information about the bidding organisation and their plans for the event.

This is the first stage in the extensive site selection process organized by the FGG. At the end of July 2012, organisations that demonstrate viability will be invited to respond to a detailed Request for Proposals (RFP).

After the completed RFPs have been submitted, the FGG Site Selection Committee will recommend to the FGG Board of Directors a shortlist of prospective host organizations. FGG site inspectors will visit the three finalists and report on their findings at the Site Selection Meeting to take place in conjunction with the FGG Annual General Assembly in Cleveland, Ohio in late 2013. At this meeting, the three finalists then have the opportunity to present their bid for the final vote by the FGG Member Organizations which will determine the host of the 2018 Gay Games. This meeting will also be an opportunity for FGG delegates and volunteers to visit the site of the next Gay Games, to be held in Cleveland+Akron in August 2014.

FGG Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) noted, “So far, we're aware of serious plans to bid from organisations in London, Orlando, Paris and Sao Paulo, as well as expressions of interest from other locations. We look forward to a demanding task of choosing among some outstanding proposals for Gay Games X.”

FGG co-president Emy Ritt (London) added: “Each bidding cycle offers new opportunities to improve our process. The addition of the RFI stage of bidding will allow us to give prospective bidders more information early on. That makes for a better bidding process for potential hosts, and for the delegates of the FGG member organisations who will make the final choice in Cleveland in 2013.”

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.

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The ninth edition of the quadrennial Gay Games will be held in Cleveland + Akron, Ohio 9-16 August 2014. For information about Gay Games 9, Cleveland 2014, visit www.gg9cle.com.

About the Gay Games

Built upon the principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best, since 1982 the Gay Games have empowered thousands of LGBT athletes and artists through sport, culture, and fellowship.

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 9 will be held in Cleveland + Akron, OH, USA 9-16 August 2014. Visit www.gg9cle.com for more information.

“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.

2012 Annual General Assembly website online

The mini-website for the 2012 Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly is now online at  gaymes.info/sofia2012

We will be meeting this year in Sofia, Bulgaria, This is the first time that the FGG has held its Annual General Assembly in Eastern Europe, which was a key outreach area for Gay Games 9.

We look forward to making new contacts with the Bulgarian community. We offer our special thanks to FGG member Tangra Sports for assisting with the organisation of the Annual General Assembly.

As with all AGAs, there is much to discuss. This year, the agenda will include the traditional committee meetings, elections and general assembly business. In addition, there will be opportunities to speak with the organisers of the 2014 Gay Games.

Remember, this is the last opportunity for Full Members of FGG to qualify to vote for the host of Gay Games X (site selection to be held in Cleveland in late 2013). As stated in the FGG Bylaws, all FGG full members who attend the 2012 Annual General Assembly in Sofia will qualify to vote.

(Note: Full members that have attended two Annual General Assemblies since 2009 are also eligible to vote for the host of Gay Games X.)

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.

Support for London 2018 Gay Games bid

From the PinkPaper:

Following the success of this year's event, the city of London is bidding to host the tenth Gay Games in 2018.

The London 2018 organisers spent a week meeting with officials in Cologne collecting a wealth of information and have come back very encouraged, sources say.

Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “I would like to state my support to the possibility of the Gay Games coming to London. The Coalition Government is committed to the promotion of sport at all levels, for any gender or sexual orientation – from the Olympics, through to grassroots, community, clubs and local competitions.

“In my role as Minister for Sport and the Olympics, I am the person responsible for Olympic legacy. Providing a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games is my top priority. We are committed to provide a lasting legacy for athletics. It is vital that we use the 2012 Games to get more people involved in sport and to ensure that our elite athletes are receiving the best possible opportunities and we are working closely with our partners to achieve this goal.”

London announces bid to host tenth Gay Games in 2018

From the UK's Pink News comes this story by reporter Christopher Brocklebank.

PinkNews.com • August 13, 2010

London is bidding to host the tenth Gay Games in 2018. The Games, recently held in Cologne, are one of the largest sporting and cultural events in the world.

The event is not only open to LGBT participants – all adults are free to enter, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, health status or ability. The bid committee recently met with officials in Cologne and say they are feeling "very encouraged".

Coordinator of the bid, Jonathan Harbourne, is the founder of the London Raiders softball team and member of the LGBT Sports Network. In a press release he wrote: "Cologne was so inspiring, they put on an amazing Games. Many Brits came home with medals and the LGBT Sports Network is looking forward to putting on a party to welcome home all the athletes.

"We’ve come back fired-up to bring the Games to London – taking it to the next level. London is in such a strong position to host the games in 2018. The 2012 Olympics will provide the best facilities in the world . . . this is going to be great for LGBT people, great for sport, and great for London."

The London 2018 Gay Games Bid committee are seeking volunteers to join their team, at all levels, to produce a winning bid. A public meeting is planned for January 2011 to bring together all potetially interested parties.

The web site launches at the end of next month.

Read the complete story HERE.

Photo of UK powerlifter Chris Morgan courtesy of Becker Media.