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Chicago, IL — Chicago organizers of the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival are reminding worldwide LGBT athletes and artists that early registration for the 2006 quadrennial sports and culture event closes on Friday, 31 December 2004. Registration is available online at http://www.GayGamesChicago.org or by calling +1 (1) 773.907.2006. On 1 January 2005, the base registration fee for Gay Games VII increases from
US$125 to US$175. The additional sports and cultural event fees remain the same, ranging from US$35 to $124.

Early registration began 1 July 2004, the earliest in advance of a Gay Games that registration has ever opened. Early registration benefits include a US$50 discount off the base registration fee and a chance to secure space to participate in favored sports and cultural events. 
Sailing has now reached capacity and the Golf competition is filling up quickly. In November, Chicago organizers announced that a weekly transit pass would be included for free as part of the registration fee. Gay Games VII will take place 15-22 July 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Registration in Gay Games VII entitles the individual to the following:
* Participation in sport and/or cultural event(s)
* Participation in Opening Ceremony at Soldier Field
* Participation in Closing Ceremony at Wrigley Field
* Gay Games VII Participation Medal
* Free spectator access to many events
* Free Week-Long Transit Pass
* Gay Games VII Program Guide
* Gay Games VII Souvenir Bag
* Collectable Participant ID
* Discounts at area merchants
* Special online giveaways through 2006

Additional benefits are being added as companies sign up as sponsors of Gay Games VII.

All are eligible to participate. There are no qualifiers. Athletes and artists that are beginners to recreational, masters to elite levels, are welcome at the Gay Games.

SQUASH REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Chicago has added competition in Squash to the program for Gay Games VII. Squash competition will be held at the North Sports Village located at Northwestern University on high-quality international squash courts located at the same venue as Racquetball. Capacity for the Squash competition is limited to just 100 participants and organizers anticipate the tournament will reach capacity quickly. Early registration is highly recommended.

PRE-PAY REGISTRATION OPENS
An innovative new “Pre-Pay” program, launched by the Chicago hosts on December 15th, is adding to the year-end registration excitement. 
“Pre-Pay” allows city teams, sports teams, team captains, team sponsors, or even individuals to pre-pay for a group of Gay Games registrations to take advantage of the early registration fees and name their players later. This allows teams to purchase discounted slots, even if their rosters are not complete. Those using the Pre-Pay Program can reserve spots by paying only the base registration fee. Sport and Culture fees can be paid later by the group, or by the individuals as they are added to the roster. To participate in Pre-Pay, call the Gay Games at (773) 907-2006, or email your phone number to info@gaygameschicago.org and a representative will call you with details.

This program can be used by local sponsors to pre-pay for the teams they will support at the Gay Games. City teams may use it to acquire slots for new city team members they will recruit in 2005 and 2006. Athletic clubs can use the system to ensure current and future members receive discount pricing. Organizations that provide Gay Games scholarships can pre-pay for registrations to ensure the best rate. Individuals could use the new system to purchase Gay Games registration as a holiday gift.

“We've been listening to you about ways to improve registration procedures,” said Sam Coady, CGI Co-Chair, “and we're pleased to offer the pre-pay option to make it easier for full teams to register in advance. Let us know what you think!”

ABOUT GAY GAMES VII
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place 15-22 July 2006. Over 12,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 15 July at Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of American-style football’s Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be 22 July at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, located in the heart of Chicago’s largest LGBT neighborhood. Athletes and artists can register now for Gay Games VII and receive early registration discounts at http://www.GayGamesChicago.org. Early sponsors of Gay Games VII include PlanetOut/Gay.com, Genre Magazine, Girlfriends Magazine, and Windy City Media Group plus more than 30 business sponsors.

ABOUT THE GAY GAMES
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 have been held in San Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990; 7,300 participants), New York (1994; 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998; 13,000 participants), and Sydney (2002; 11,000 participants).

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 (tm). For more information, visit http://www.GayGames.org.

Chicago Games, Inc. is the host of Gay Games VII and is led by experienced civic leaders from Chicago’s business, sports and non-profit sectors. For information about how to sponsor or participate in Gay Games VII in Chicago, visit http://www.GayGamesChicago.org, e-mail info@GayGamesChicago.org, or phone (773) 907-2006.

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