Chicago Games Announces Dec. 11 Public Meeting To Discuss Possible Bid for 2006 Gay Games
Sat. November 29, 2003 12:00 AM
Chicago, IL -
Chicago Games, Inc. will host a public town hall meeting Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 at Ann Sather's, 929 W. Belmont, 6-8 p.m. Chicago had bid to host the Gay Games in 2006 and was not initially selected. The selection process has now been re-opened and a re-bid from Chicago is being requested. At this meeting, members of the community are invited to provide input into the feasibility of Chicago hosting Gay Games VII in the summer of 2006. Representatives from Chicago Games, Inc. and the community leaders who prepared the original bid will help lead the discussion.
Representatives of sports and culture groups, as well as business owners, promoters and fundraisers, are especially invited to attend. No RSVP is necessary and the event is free of charge. If you are unable to attend but are interested in receiving information about a Chicago bid for the 2006 Gay Games, send your email address to volunteer@chicagogamesinc.org with subject line "Place Me on Chicago 2006 Email List."
Background
More than 400 people participated in Chicago's original bid to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). Since negotiations with the original host organization were declared at an impasse two weeks ago, the Federation has invited the other 2006 Finalists (Alternative Bidding Organizations - or ABOs) to participate in a shortened re-bid process to determine the host of the 2006 Gay Games. Atlanta has bowed out, leaving just Chicago and Los Angeles as potential re-bidders for Gay Games VII.
Those who prepared the original Chicago 2006 bid have been meeting with Chicago city officials to find out what role government might play in a re-bid. However, organizers emphasize that they will be first and foremost looking to do what is best for the Chicago GLBT community. The Gay Games generates millions in tourism dollars, and this moment in history provides a unique opportunity for Chicago's community to be center stage in the worldwide GLBT movement.
While preparation time would be shortened, organizers are exploring a Gay Games focused on the sports and culture components of the event, scaling back unrelated activities and leaving promoters and non-profit groups to run licensed ancillary events during the Gay Games. Organizers believe that such a plan for a streamlined Gay Games VII could avoid the financial difficulties of past Gay Games, return the event to its core mission, avoid taking significant funds from existing Chicago GLBT community priorities, and yield significant tourism revenue to the city and its GLBT and hospitality businesses.
"We look forward to hearing from sports, culture and business leaders about their feelings for a Gay Games in Chicago," said Dennis Sneyers, Co-Chair of Chicago Games, Inc. "The Games will likely move away from North America in 2010, leaving a long gap for the next opportunity for Chicago to make such a significant contribution to the GLBT sports and culture movement."
"Before making a decision, the responsible thing to do is receive input from the sports and cultural organizations, plus tourism-related businesses who would be called upon to help this effort," said Kevin Boyer, lead organizer of the recent Federation of Gay Games annual meeting in Chicago.
While in Chicago, the FGG adopted a contingency plan asking that each ABO 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 advanced materials from the FGG. The ABOs are asked to indicate preliminary interest in the re-bid process by Dec. 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. The December 1 interest statement is not a commitment to re-bid, bur rather a statement of interest in the re-bid process.
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.
Representatives of sports and culture groups, as well as business owners, promoters and fundraisers, are especially invited to attend. No RSVP is necessary and the event is free of charge. If you are unable to attend but are interested in receiving information about a Chicago bid for the 2006 Gay Games, send your email address to volunteer@chicagogamesinc.org with subject line "Place Me on Chicago 2006 Email List."
Background
More than 400 people participated in Chicago's original bid to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). Since negotiations with the original host organization were declared at an impasse two weeks ago, the Federation has invited the other 2006 Finalists (Alternative Bidding Organizations - or ABOs) to participate in a shortened re-bid process to determine the host of the 2006 Gay Games. Atlanta has bowed out, leaving just Chicago and Los Angeles as potential re-bidders for Gay Games VII.
Those who prepared the original Chicago 2006 bid have been meeting with Chicago city officials to find out what role government might play in a re-bid. However, organizers emphasize that they will be first and foremost looking to do what is best for the Chicago GLBT community. The Gay Games generates millions in tourism dollars, and this moment in history provides a unique opportunity for Chicago's community to be center stage in the worldwide GLBT movement.
While preparation time would be shortened, organizers are exploring a Gay Games focused on the sports and culture components of the event, scaling back unrelated activities and leaving promoters and non-profit groups to run licensed ancillary events during the Gay Games. Organizers believe that such a plan for a streamlined Gay Games VII could avoid the financial difficulties of past Gay Games, return the event to its core mission, avoid taking significant funds from existing Chicago GLBT community priorities, and yield significant tourism revenue to the city and its GLBT and hospitality businesses.
"We look forward to hearing from sports, culture and business leaders about their feelings for a Gay Games in Chicago," said Dennis Sneyers, Co-Chair of Chicago Games, Inc. "The Games will likely move away from North America in 2010, leaving a long gap for the next opportunity for Chicago to make such a significant contribution to the GLBT sports and culture movement."
"Before making a decision, the responsible thing to do is receive input from the sports and cultural organizations, plus tourism-related businesses who would be called upon to help this effort," said Kevin Boyer, lead organizer of the recent Federation of Gay Games annual meeting in Chicago.
While in Chicago, the FGG adopted a contingency plan asking that each ABO 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 advanced materials from the FGG. The ABOs are asked to indicate preliminary interest in the re-bid process by Dec. 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. The December 1 interest statement is not a commitment to re-bid, bur rather a statement of interest in the re-bid process.
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.