Atlanta Games, Inc. Decides Not To Participate in the Re-Bid Process For Gay Games 2006
Mon. November 17, 2003 12:00 AM
The Federation of Gay Games elects to solicit bids from remaining 3 bidding organizations
Atlanta, GA -
The Atlanta Games, Inc. (AGI) organization today announced that they will not participate in the re-bid process for the 2006 Gay Games. AGI representatives attended the annual Federation of Gay Games (FGG) board meeting in Chicago last week to determine whether the FGG would select the city with the second most votes from the original 2001 FGG vote as the next host city. This process was in place for previous bid cycles, but was removed from the 2001 bid cycle.
“We felt it was in the best interest of the FGG to act quickly and decisively on their selection for the next host city,” said Ray Hom, AGI board member. “In past bidding cycles, the RFP process included a clause that the city with the second most votes would be awarded the Games should the winner not be able to agree on a contract with the FGG,” explained Hom. “This would have helped minimize any further media attention and provide the GLBT sports and cultural community with a sense of certainty immediately for the Gay Games.”
Margie Archer, president, AGI, added, “We felt it was important for the FGG to select The Second City by the end of the meeting in order to focus on a partnership immediately with a host city and start the due diligence process. We traveled to the annual meeting to inform the FGG that it didn’t matter which city had the second most votes. But, we were anxious to learn whether Atlanta came in second in hopes of being the alternate city should Montreal negotiations terminate”
The final results for the second place city from the original 2001 vote were announced late last week during the FGG annual meeting. Atlanta received the second most votes, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles.
AGI representatives were told the FGG site selection committee was concerned that the members who voted for Montreal would not be given a chance to vote for a second city if they were to award the Games to the second city without a re-bid process
“It’s been two years since Montreal was selected. To start a four month re-bid cycle now for Games scheduled in 2006 would put any city at a clear organizational disadvantage,” said Archer. “We cannot in good conscience ask sponsors and city partners to participate in a bid process that we disagree with and will put the winning city in a losing position as the 2006 games rapidly approach. AGI continues to be committed to the Gay Games movement and hopes that the 2006 host city will be a huge success.”
“We felt it was in the best interest of the FGG to act quickly and decisively on their selection for the next host city,” said Ray Hom, AGI board member. “In past bidding cycles, the RFP process included a clause that the city with the second most votes would be awarded the Games should the winner not be able to agree on a contract with the FGG,” explained Hom. “This would have helped minimize any further media attention and provide the GLBT sports and cultural community with a sense of certainty immediately for the Gay Games.”
Margie Archer, president, AGI, added, “We felt it was important for the FGG to select The Second City by the end of the meeting in order to focus on a partnership immediately with a host city and start the due diligence process. We traveled to the annual meeting to inform the FGG that it didn’t matter which city had the second most votes. But, we were anxious to learn whether Atlanta came in second in hopes of being the alternate city should Montreal negotiations terminate”
The final results for the second place city from the original 2001 vote were announced late last week during the FGG annual meeting. Atlanta received the second most votes, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles.
AGI representatives were told the FGG site selection committee was concerned that the members who voted for Montreal would not be given a chance to vote for a second city if they were to award the Games to the second city without a re-bid process
“It’s been two years since Montreal was selected. To start a four month re-bid cycle now for Games scheduled in 2006 would put any city at a clear organizational disadvantage,” said Archer. “We cannot in good conscience ask sponsors and city partners to participate in a bid process that we disagree with and will put the winning city in a losing position as the 2006 games rapidly approach. AGI continues to be committed to the Gay Games movement and hopes that the 2006 host city will be a huge success.”