Chicago Gay Games Now at 11,000 Participants

Chicago, IL - Just three weeks after reaching 10,000 participants, Chicago organizers of the 2006 Gay Games announced today that they now have more than 11,000 participants from more than 50 countries committed to attending the 7th Gay Games Sports & Cultural Festival, 15-22 July 2006.

"Regular registration ended on 15 April 2006 and we saw a significant surge in sign ups as individuals sought to avoid late fees," said Sam Coady, Gay Games Chicago Board Co-Chair. "Many sports are nearly full and others will close soon so that our Sports Managers can finalize schedules and officials for these huge tournaments. We continue to urge individuals to register soon to avoid losing a spot in their favorite sport."

Opening & Closing Ceremony Protocols Posted Information for participants about the Opening and Closing Ceremony are now posted at www.gaygameschicago.org. Included are details about uniforms, banners, and accreditation. All registered participants receive an Opening & Closing Ceremony ticket with their registration fee. Tickets for spectators are now available online at tickets.gaygameschicago.org

Racquetball Now Closed
"A third Gay Games sport, Racquetball, has now closed," said Teresa Adams, Gay Games Sports Manager. "Golf and Sailing are both closed," added Frank Kisner, Gay Games Sports Manager, "and only available through a wait list. Ice Hockey, Badminton, Basketball, and Soccer (Football) are approaching their limits and will likely close soon."

Hosted Housing
The Gay Games VII Hosted Housing system is now live. Chicagoans interested in hosting participants are matched with athletes and artists looking for complimentary lodging in local homes through the online system. There is no cost to use the automated system at www.gaygameschicago.org.

Find a Team or Teammate
Individuals looking for teams and teams needing players can use the online Gay Games "Team Sport Matchmaker" system. "All athletes will be matched with teams," said Nancy Harris, Gay Games Chicago Sports Director, "so there is no need to delay registration." Gay Games "Matchmaker" and registration are open at www.gaygameschicago.org.

About Gay Games VII
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place 15-22 July 2006. Over 12,000 athletes from more than 70 countries will compete in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 15 July at Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of American-style football"s Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be 22 July at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, located in the heart of Chicago"s largest LGBT neighborhood.

Global sponsors of Gay Games VII include Lexiva; PlanetOut/Gay.com; Walgreen's; Q Television Network; Centaur Entertainment; Fleishman Hillard International Communications; Orbitz; McKnight Kurland Baccelli; The New York Times; Olivia Cruises & Resorts; Windy City Media Group; American Airlines; Athletico; Chicago Free Press; Chicago Sun-Times; Genre; Girlfriends; Human Rights Campaign; Lambda Legal Defense; Sydney New Mardi Gras; Mate Magazine; Pink Magazine; and more than 180 business sponsors.

ChicagoPride.com is a proud All-Star sponsor of the Chicago Gay Games.

Registration for Gay Games VII is still open at www.GayGamesChicago.org (English), www.GayGamesChicago.org/es/ (Spanish), www.GayGamesChicago.org/fr/ (French), and www.GayGamesChicago.org/de/ (German).