CLEVELAND, Ohio —One of the worlds largest Gay events will be held just down the Interstate 90 in 2014. Cleveland, Ohio was named today by the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) as the host of the 2014 Gay Games - the world’s largest sporting and cultural event for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Trans (GLBT) people. The games are anticipated to generate a local economic impact of more than $60 million. The FGG’s announcement concludes a year-long site selection process that culminated in formal presentations by bidding cities to the FGG Membership Assembly meeting this week in Cologne, Germany, site of the 2010 Gay Games. Boston and Washington, D.C. were also finalists.
Cleveland City Councilman, Joe Cimperman, and City of Cleveland Chief of Governmental Affairs, Valarie McCall, as well as representatives from Cleveland Synergy Foundation, Positively Cleveland, Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau and Continental Airlines participated in the presentation to the FGG.
"The City of Cleveland is prepared to roll out the welcome mat to the GLBT athletes, their families and spectators from around the world," said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. "Fans of the Gay Games will find that Cleveland is a great place to celebrate sports and culture and that we have tremendous assets and amenities for them to enjoy. The sports and cultural environment here is truly a uniquely Cleveland experience, one they will cherish for years to come."
"We are extremely honored and pleased that Cleveland has been selected to host the 2014 Gay Games," said W. Doug Anderson, spokesperson for Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the bidding organization. "It is truly a privilege to continue Dr. Tom Waddell’s legacy and vision in our city – an extremely enthusiastic sports town - where the guiding principles of personal best, inclusion and participation are held dear. We are also pleased to be considered and selected from among two of the greatest cities in the world – Boston and Washington, D.C. – and greatly appreciate the support of both cities as Cleveland hosts the Gay Games in 2014."
"Cleveland demonstrated to the Federation of Gay Games that they understood the mission of the Gay Games and our principles of "Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best" said Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), FGG Co-Presidents. "We were highly impressed by the facilities and infrastructure, the widespread community sport, their financial plan and the city’s experience in hosting large scale sports and cultural events."
The bid to host the Gay Games was strengthened by the robust support of both Cleveland and Akron. Cleveland City Council’s passage of Ordinance 1260-09 on September 14, 2009 – which guarantees $700,000 for the Gay Games - and Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau’s pledge of $100,000 for event marketing and promotion, contributed to the $4.5 million in financial support Cleveland Synergy Foundation estimates will be received for the event. This financial support package includes donations, grants and in-kind support.
Cleveland’s 2014 Gay Games IX Sports & Cultural Festival is scheduled to take place August 9 – 16, 2014. The 8-day event will feature 30 sports, 4 cultural events, Opening and Closing Ceremonies at Cleveland Browns Stadium and community and cultural events throughout the Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas. Gay Games historically generate an estimated $50 to $80 million in local economic impact in additional to significant ongoing travel and tourism visibility benefits for the host city.
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”™. For more information, visit www.gaygames.com.
—Staff
