Boeing Corporation is not the only world-class operation to consider a move to Chicago. The same day the aerospace giant announced it would move its world headquarters to Chicago, the Federation of Gay Games announced that Chicago was one of four finalists for the world's largest athletic competition...the 2006 Gay Games®.
Chicago 2006 ( www.chicago2006.org ) , the organization bidding to bring the Gay Games to Chicago in 2006, has been selected as a finalist for the Games by a vote of the directors of the Federation of Gay Games. In a press release issued May 9, the FGG's Site Selection Committee Chairs announced that Chicago was joined by Atlanta, Los Angeles and Montreal as finalists to host the Gay Games in 2006. A second bidding organization from Los Angeles was eliminated in the vote by directors conducted online starting May 1.
"We are very excited to progress to the next level in this bidding process," said Chicago 2006 Co-Chair R. Sue Connolly. "While we were confident that our bid would match up well against competing bids, it is nonetheless gratifying to have our efforts recognized by a vote of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Gay Games."
The Gay Games are the world's largest athletic competition and cultural festival with competition in 30 sports and a two-week long cultural festival. FGG officials expect 14,000 athletes and cultural participants, along with tens of thousands of spectators, to travel to Sydney, Australia, for the 2002 Gay Games. By comparison, the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 had approximately 11,000 athletes. Chicago's bidding effort projects a significant increase in participants and spectators should the Games come to Chicago in 2006. "The Games will return to North America in 2006," noted Chicago 2006 Co-Chair Al Petras. "We believe that Chicago's role as a world transportation and travel hub would make a Chicago Gay Games the largest ever. We have an opportunity to showcase to the world the diversity, strength, and vibrancy of the region's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and advance the values of the Gay Games...participation, inclusion and personal best...worldwide."
Chicago 2006 projects as many as 20,000 athletic and cultural participants and 100,000 tourists could descend on the city should it be selected as the site for the 2006 Gay Games®. More than 2000 have already registered for the 2002 Gay Games® to be held Nov. 2-9, 2002, in Sydney. For information about the 2002 Games, visit www.sydney2002.org .au. For information on how to register to be part of Team Chicago's continent to the 2002 Games, visit www.teamchicago.org .
The broad-based community group now prepares for the next two steps in the bidding process. This summer, a team of two representatives from the Federation's Site Selection Committee will come to Chicago to inspect sports and cultural venues as well as to gauge community support for a Gay Games in Chicago. Next October, a team from Chicago will travel to the Federation's Annual Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, to make the final presentation and to witness the final vote by the Directors. The host of the 2006 Gay Games will be announced from Johannesburg Oct. 25, 2001.
The group has significantly broadened its community and corporate outreach in recent months. Chicago 2006 recently announced that community groups in Oklahoma City, Louisville, and Ft. Lauderdale, have joined groups in Chicago and the suburbs and St. Louis, Missouri, in developing community support and awareness for a Chicago Gay Games® in 2006. Diverse community groups in Chicago and its suburbs have already signed on in support and small business/corporate support is growing for the effort. City, County and State officials have been part of the now 2-year-long effort, and Members of Congress from the Chicago area are actively involved in the process. In Chicago, local bars, restaurants and retail stores are organizing a community-wide outreach and fundraising effort for the last weekend in August ( 25-26 ) - to further broaden awareness and financial strength. Local GLBT publications have been running complimentary full-page ads for several months, highlighting volunteer opportunities and corporate donors.
For more information about Chicago 2006, visit www.chicago2006.org, or call ( 773 ) 447-2006.