Chicago Gay Games Annual Meeting Concludes
Mon. November 17, 2003 12:00 AM
Chicago To Consider Request to Re-bid as 2006 Gay Games Host
Chicago, IL -
Chicago played host to the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) November 8 to 14, 2003. Hosted by Chicago Games, Inc., and Team Chicago, the Annual Meeting probably will be most remembered for the decision taken by the FGG and representatives of Montreal's tourism and GLBT community to end negotiations over a license agreement that would have sent the Gay Games to Montreal in 2006. (story)
The Annual Meeting hosts, however, are pleased that the meeting will also be remembered as a well-organized and implemented week-long event that illustrated the vibrancy of the City of Chicago and the strength of support for the Gay Games movement from the city government and Chicago's GLBT sports and cultural community.
"This was a challenging meeting for the delegates of the Federation of Gay Games," said Dennis Sneyers, Co-Chair of Chicago Games, Inc. "and our goal was to ensure a smooth operating environment so that the FGG could focus on its work. By all accounts, we accomplished this and more. We are extremely grateful to the many volunteers and sponsors that ensured a well-organized meeting."
Sponsors of the Annual Meeting included: Steamworks, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, the City of Chicago, Northern Trust Bank, Harris Bank, AX Computers, Bacardi, Baton Show Lounge, Boi Magazine, Bonnie Flowers, Buddies' Restaurant and Bar, Chicago Eagle, City View Realty, ChicagoPride.com, Cliff Bar, Gay Chicago Magazine, Gentry, The Room, Roscoe's, Turi Vodka, Third Coast Marketing, Windy City Media Group and Zone Perfect.
"We would also like to thank Mayor Richard M. Daley and his staff, including William Greaves, the Mayor's GLBT Liaison, for the tremendous Civic Reception held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003," said Sneyers. "The Mayor's statements of ongoing commitment to the Gay Games movement delivered a strong message to the Federation of Gay Games and its delegates that Chicago remains supportive of their goals and objectives."
"More than 50 volunteers worked on the Annual Meeting," said lead organizer Kevin Boyer, "either in planning, staffing the Meeting office, hosting delegates in their homes, or helping with social and civic events." Many of these volunteers were recognized at the closing dinner held at Edgewater restaurant The Room, on Friday evening. Special recognition was given to the key organizers including Kevin Boyer, Kurt Dahl, Rob Hunden, Christopher Pries and Dennis Sneyers of Chicago Games, Inc., and Roger Bashore, Suzanne Arnold, John Niehaus, Paul Oostenbrug, and Elizabeth Valenti of Team Chicago.
Gay Games in Chicago in 2006?
At the direction of the FGG Executive Committee, the FGG Site Selection Committee had developed a draft Contingency Plan designed to lead to the selection of a new host city for Gay Games VII in the event negotiations with Montreal were not successful. When these negotiations formally ended on November 11, 2003, the FGG approached all three of the cities who bid for the 2006 Gay Games - Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles - and discussed with them how best to move forward on a re-bid effort. After four meetings with the Alternative Bidding Organizations (ABOs) and a robust discussion in the Site Selection Committee, the full board of the FGG adopted a plan calling for a re-bid from each of the 3 ABOs.
This contingency plan calls for each ABO to submit a revised budget and plan for a Gay Games VII in 2006, preferably not to conflict with the dates being proposed for the Sports and Cultural Festival in Montreal that same year. A copy of a proposed contract between the Host City and the FGG will be included as part of the materials from the FGG. The ABOs are asked to indicate preliminary interest in the re-bid process by December 1, 2003, with a formal bid due by February 1, 2004. A new host for Gay Games VII will be selected by March 14, 2004.
In a subsequent development, Atlanta's 2006 bid organization issued a press release today (Nov 17) indicating they will not re-bid for the 2006 Gay Games, leaving only Los Angeles and Chicago as possible hosts.
Statement by Chicago Games, Inc.:
"Chicago Games, Inc., congratulates the community on coming together in support of GLBT sports and culture, and for showing the delegates of the FGG what Chicago's community can deliver at its best. We especially congratulate Chicago GLBT sports legend Suzanne Arnold, former co-chair of Team Chicago and Team Chicago delegate to the FGG, on her election as Federation of Gay Games Co-Vice President."
"We remain committed to the Gay Games movement and will spend the time necessary to appropriately consider the FGG's request to re-bid to host the Gay Games in 2006. Preliminary discussions among the organizers of our initial 2006 bid will be followed by consultations with the City of Chicago, our proposed sponsors for 2006 and the GLBT community. We are aware of concerns regarding the cost of such an effort, the shortened planning time, and the public relations challenges because of the public disagreement between Montreal and the FGG. However, Chicago has a long and rich history of support for the Gay Games and the Federation of Gay Games and we want to act in a manner that will ensure the continuation of that movement. Therefore, we plan to seriously consider the FGG's request for a re-bid. If we can develop a plan that would be fiscally sound, would not put undue hardship on the Chicago Area's GLBT community or its organizations, and would be enthusiastically supported by the City, our sponsors, and the community at large, then we will seek to bring the Gay Games to Chicago."
Chicago Games, Inc., formerly known as Chicago 2006, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to promoting the Gay Games movement in Chicago and bringing a future Gay Games to Chicago. For more information, visit ChicagoGamesInc.org. Gay Games is a registered trademark of the Federation of Gay Games. For more information, visit GayGames.org.
The Annual Meeting hosts, however, are pleased that the meeting will also be remembered as a well-organized and implemented week-long event that illustrated the vibrancy of the City of Chicago and the strength of support for the Gay Games movement from the city government and Chicago's GLBT sports and cultural community.
"This was a challenging meeting for the delegates of the Federation of Gay Games," said Dennis Sneyers, Co-Chair of Chicago Games, Inc. "and our goal was to ensure a smooth operating environment so that the FGG could focus on its work. By all accounts, we accomplished this and more. We are extremely grateful to the many volunteers and sponsors that ensured a well-organized meeting."
Sponsors of the Annual Meeting included: Steamworks, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, the City of Chicago, Northern Trust Bank, Harris Bank, AX Computers, Bacardi, Baton Show Lounge, Boi Magazine, Bonnie Flowers, Buddies' Restaurant and Bar, Chicago Eagle, City View Realty, ChicagoPride.com, Cliff Bar, Gay Chicago Magazine, Gentry, The Room, Roscoe's, Turi Vodka, Third Coast Marketing, Windy City Media Group and Zone Perfect.
"We would also like to thank Mayor Richard M. Daley and his staff, including William Greaves, the Mayor's GLBT Liaison, for the tremendous Civic Reception held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003," said Sneyers. "The Mayor's statements of ongoing commitment to the Gay Games movement delivered a strong message to the Federation of Gay Games and its delegates that Chicago remains supportive of their goals and objectives."
"More than 50 volunteers worked on the Annual Meeting," said lead organizer Kevin Boyer, "either in planning, staffing the Meeting office, hosting delegates in their homes, or helping with social and civic events." Many of these volunteers were recognized at the closing dinner held at Edgewater restaurant The Room, on Friday evening. Special recognition was given to the key organizers including Kevin Boyer, Kurt Dahl, Rob Hunden, Christopher Pries and Dennis Sneyers of Chicago Games, Inc., and Roger Bashore, Suzanne Arnold, John Niehaus, Paul Oostenbrug, and Elizabeth Valenti of Team Chicago.
Gay Games in Chicago in 2006?
At the direction of the FGG Executive Committee, the FGG Site Selection Committee had developed a draft Contingency Plan designed to lead to the selection of a new host city for Gay Games VII in the event negotiations with Montreal were not successful. When these negotiations formally ended on November 11, 2003, the FGG approached all three of the cities who bid for the 2006 Gay Games - Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles - and discussed with them how best to move forward on a re-bid effort. After four meetings with the Alternative Bidding Organizations (ABOs) and a robust discussion in the Site Selection Committee, the full board of the FGG adopted a plan calling for a re-bid from each of the 3 ABOs.
This contingency plan calls for each ABO to submit a revised budget and plan for a Gay Games VII in 2006, preferably not to conflict with the dates being proposed for the Sports and Cultural Festival in Montreal that same year. A copy of a proposed contract between the Host City and the FGG will be included as part of the materials from the FGG. The ABOs are asked to indicate preliminary interest in the re-bid process by December 1, 2003, with a formal bid due by February 1, 2004. A new host for Gay Games VII will be selected by March 14, 2004.
In a subsequent development, Atlanta's 2006 bid organization issued a press release today (Nov 17) indicating they will not re-bid for the 2006 Gay Games, leaving only Los Angeles and Chicago as possible hosts.
Statement by Chicago Games, Inc.:
"Chicago Games, Inc., congratulates the community on coming together in support of GLBT sports and culture, and for showing the delegates of the FGG what Chicago's community can deliver at its best. We especially congratulate Chicago GLBT sports legend Suzanne Arnold, former co-chair of Team Chicago and Team Chicago delegate to the FGG, on her election as Federation of Gay Games Co-Vice President."
"We remain committed to the Gay Games movement and will spend the time necessary to appropriately consider the FGG's request to re-bid to host the Gay Games in 2006. Preliminary discussions among the organizers of our initial 2006 bid will be followed by consultations with the City of Chicago, our proposed sponsors for 2006 and the GLBT community. We are aware of concerns regarding the cost of such an effort, the shortened planning time, and the public relations challenges because of the public disagreement between Montreal and the FGG. However, Chicago has a long and rich history of support for the Gay Games and the Federation of Gay Games and we want to act in a manner that will ensure the continuation of that movement. Therefore, we plan to seriously consider the FGG's request for a re-bid. If we can develop a plan that would be fiscally sound, would not put undue hardship on the Chicago Area's GLBT community or its organizations, and would be enthusiastically supported by the City, our sponsors, and the community at large, then we will seek to bring the Gay Games to Chicago."
Chicago Games, Inc., formerly known as Chicago 2006, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to promoting the Gay Games movement in Chicago and bringing a future Gay Games to Chicago. For more information, visit ChicagoGamesInc.org. Gay Games is a registered trademark of the Federation of Gay Games. For more information, visit GayGames.org.