International meeting takes place November 8 to 14, 2003
Chicago, IL -
Delegates from 12 countries and 15 US states begin arriving in Chicago next week for the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG).
Delegates will begin meetings mid-day on Saturday, November 8, with formal events concluding Friday, November 14. All meetings are taking place at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in downtown Chicago. In addition, delegates will be treated to a City Trolley tour; a welcome reception at Chicago's famous gay cabaret club, Gentry; a Civic Reception at the Cultural Center hosted by the City of Chicago; hosted evening tours of hotspots in Lakeview and Andersonville; and a closing dinner at the lesbian-owned "The Room," restaurant in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood.
Chicago's involvement with the Gay Games® movement extends back to the mid-1980s. The first female Co-President of the Federation of Gay Games, Peg Gray, was a Chicagoan. From 1999 to 2001, Chicago mounted an effort to bid for the 2006 Gay Games®. That effort was ultimately not successful as Federation delegates voted to award the Gay Games® to Montreal. Chicago 2006 took the opportunity to change its name to Chicago Games, Inc. and focus on supporting the Gay Games® movement more generally, with the goal of ultimately bringing the Games to Chicago. Team Chicago and Chicago Games, Inc, teamed up to successfully win the right to host the 2003 FGG Annual Meeting in a competitive bidding process in the summer of 2002. While Chicago Games, Inc., has not yet determined whether it will bid on a future Gay Games®, having the FGG Delegates in Chicago for a whole week gives the city an opportunity to shine before an international sports body that could ultimately decide to host its quadrennial event here.
The 2003 FGG Annual Meeting has been the recipient of generous support from the following businesses and organizations: City of Chicago, Steamworks, Northern Trust Bank, Harris Bank, Chicago Eagle, Third Coast Marketing, ChicagoPride.com, The Room, Windy City Media Group, Gay Chicago Magazine, Boi Magazine, Cliff Bar, Zone Perfect, City View Realty, Buddies' Restaurant and Bar, The Baton Show Lounge, Gentry of Chicago, and Bacardi Razz and Turi Vodka. Dozens of volunteers have worked for more than a year to ensure that the meeting will be a success, including 15 members of the GLBT community who will be hosting delegates in their homes. Additional sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available. Particular needs include cash contributions and volunteers to work during day-time hours onsite at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. For further information, visit ChicagoGamesInc.org or email Volunteer@ChicagoGamesInc.org.
Both Chicago Games, Inc. and Team Chicago are nonprofit 501c3 organizations. Gay Games® is a registered trademark of the Federation of Gay Games. For more information, visit www.gaygames.org
Delegates will begin meetings mid-day on Saturday, November 8, with formal events concluding Friday, November 14. All meetings are taking place at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in downtown Chicago. In addition, delegates will be treated to a City Trolley tour; a welcome reception at Chicago's famous gay cabaret club, Gentry; a Civic Reception at the Cultural Center hosted by the City of Chicago; hosted evening tours of hotspots in Lakeview and Andersonville; and a closing dinner at the lesbian-owned "The Room," restaurant in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood.
Chicago's involvement with the Gay Games® movement extends back to the mid-1980s. The first female Co-President of the Federation of Gay Games, Peg Gray, was a Chicagoan. From 1999 to 2001, Chicago mounted an effort to bid for the 2006 Gay Games®. That effort was ultimately not successful as Federation delegates voted to award the Gay Games® to Montreal. Chicago 2006 took the opportunity to change its name to Chicago Games, Inc. and focus on supporting the Gay Games® movement more generally, with the goal of ultimately bringing the Games to Chicago. Team Chicago and Chicago Games, Inc, teamed up to successfully win the right to host the 2003 FGG Annual Meeting in a competitive bidding process in the summer of 2002. While Chicago Games, Inc., has not yet determined whether it will bid on a future Gay Games®, having the FGG Delegates in Chicago for a whole week gives the city an opportunity to shine before an international sports body that could ultimately decide to host its quadrennial event here.
The 2003 FGG Annual Meeting has been the recipient of generous support from the following businesses and organizations: City of Chicago, Steamworks, Northern Trust Bank, Harris Bank, Chicago Eagle, Third Coast Marketing, ChicagoPride.com, The Room, Windy City Media Group, Gay Chicago Magazine, Boi Magazine, Cliff Bar, Zone Perfect, City View Realty, Buddies' Restaurant and Bar, The Baton Show Lounge, Gentry of Chicago, and Bacardi Razz and Turi Vodka. Dozens of volunteers have worked for more than a year to ensure that the meeting will be a success, including 15 members of the GLBT community who will be hosting delegates in their homes. Additional sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available. Particular needs include cash contributions and volunteers to work during day-time hours onsite at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. For further information, visit ChicagoGamesInc.org or email Volunteer@ChicagoGamesInc.org.
Both Chicago Games, Inc. and Team Chicago are nonprofit 501c3 organizations. Gay Games® is a registered trademark of the Federation of Gay Games. For more information, visit www.gaygames.org
