Chicago and Los Angeles Enter Bidding Process to Host Gay Games VII in 2006
Sun. January 4, 2004 12:00 AM by ChicagoPride.com News Staff
Final decision scheduled for March 2004
New York City -
The Federation of Gay Games announced today that Chicago Games Inc. and Los Angeles 2006, Inc. had submitted formal letters of intent to bid for the right to host Gay Games VII in 2006.
“We are pleased that members of the Los Angeles and Chicago bidding organizations are demonstrating their enthusiasm to host the Gay Games,” said Federation of Gay Games co-president Roberto Mantaci from his home in Paris. “Both cities are, of course, large metropolitan areas with strong LGBT communities, and either of them would be an excellent choice for the next edition of the Gay Games.”
The Federation’s board of directors is scheduled to make a decision in March 2004. Both bidding organizations participated in the original bid process for Gay Games VII in 2001 along with groups from Atlanta and Montréal.
The Federation had originally selected Montréal but the Montréal organizers broke off contract negotiations in November, putting the Federation in the unprecedented situation of reopening the bidding process for Gay Games VII. Members of Atlanta Games, Inc. announced at that time that they would not bid again.
However, members of the Chicago and Los Angeles bid organizations were enthusiastic about the opportunity and proceeded to go back to supporters of their 2001 bids to discuss whether bidding again was feasible.
Mantaci noted that the letters of intent to bid indicated there was indeed local community support for each of the Los Angeles and Chicago bidding organizations. He acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances and called on Gay Games participants to support the two groups’ bid efforts.
Gay Games participants and supporters have flooded the Federation with e-mails since November, some expressing disappointment that the Gay Games would be moved and others voicing their appreciation that the Federation has taken steps to ensure that the Gay Games will continue.
“We’re asking the next host to focus almost exclusively on the core activities that the Gay Games was founded to showcase,” said Kathleen Webster, Federation co-president, of Philadelphia. “By re-defining the size and scope of Gay Games VII, we want to reduce as much as possible the risk of the large deficits that have resulted from the past three Gay Games.”
Federation officials acknowledged the challenges of a reduced preparation time to organize a Gay Games, but pointed out that both bidding organizations were prepared to overcome potential hurdles and mount a successful event in 2006.
“Members of the Federation board who themselves have served on past Gay Games host committees say that most of the work is done in the immediate 12 to 18 months prior,” Webster said. “The Federation will do everything we can to assist the future host in putting on a successful event.”
Final bid documents are due to be submitted by 1 February, with the Federation board expected to vote on 1 March.
For more information about the Gay Games and the Federation, go to www.gaygames.com.
“We are pleased that members of the Los Angeles and Chicago bidding organizations are demonstrating their enthusiasm to host the Gay Games,” said Federation of Gay Games co-president Roberto Mantaci from his home in Paris. “Both cities are, of course, large metropolitan areas with strong LGBT communities, and either of them would be an excellent choice for the next edition of the Gay Games.”
The Federation’s board of directors is scheduled to make a decision in March 2004. Both bidding organizations participated in the original bid process for Gay Games VII in 2001 along with groups from Atlanta and Montréal.
The Federation had originally selected Montréal but the Montréal organizers broke off contract negotiations in November, putting the Federation in the unprecedented situation of reopening the bidding process for Gay Games VII. Members of Atlanta Games, Inc. announced at that time that they would not bid again.
However, members of the Chicago and Los Angeles bid organizations were enthusiastic about the opportunity and proceeded to go back to supporters of their 2001 bids to discuss whether bidding again was feasible.
Mantaci noted that the letters of intent to bid indicated there was indeed local community support for each of the Los Angeles and Chicago bidding organizations. He acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances and called on Gay Games participants to support the two groups’ bid efforts.
Gay Games participants and supporters have flooded the Federation with e-mails since November, some expressing disappointment that the Gay Games would be moved and others voicing their appreciation that the Federation has taken steps to ensure that the Gay Games will continue.
“We’re asking the next host to focus almost exclusively on the core activities that the Gay Games was founded to showcase,” said Kathleen Webster, Federation co-president, of Philadelphia. “By re-defining the size and scope of Gay Games VII, we want to reduce as much as possible the risk of the large deficits that have resulted from the past three Gay Games.”
Federation officials acknowledged the challenges of a reduced preparation time to organize a Gay Games, but pointed out that both bidding organizations were prepared to overcome potential hurdles and mount a successful event in 2006.
“Members of the Federation board who themselves have served on past Gay Games host committees say that most of the work is done in the immediate 12 to 18 months prior,” Webster said. “The Federation will do everything we can to assist the future host in putting on a successful event.”
Final bid documents are due to be submitted by 1 February, with the Federation board expected to vote on 1 March.
For more information about the Gay Games and the Federation, go to www.gaygames.com.