More than 11,000 athletes and artists from nearly 70 countries participated in the 2006 Gay Games Sports & Cultural Festival in Chicago.
Now, organizers of Chicago 2006 are inviting participants, volunteers, sponsors, friends and family to return for a special 7th Anniversary event to witness the formal unveiling of a permanent legacy display at Chicago's Center on Halsted.
The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, at the Center on Halsted, 3646 N. Halsted, Chicago. There is no cost to attend and all are welcome. Participants, volunteers, staff, sponsors and fans are encouraged to wear Chicago 2006 uniforms, pins, medals and other souvenirs from Chicago 20006 or other Gay Games. There will be special give-aways of GGVII merchandise.
Representatives from Cleveland, the site of the 2014 Gay Games, will be on hand to answer questions. A registration discount will be available for those who register for Cleveland 2014 on site.
"Chicago 2006 was conceived, managed and executed by the largest group of community organizers and volunteers ever assembled by Chicago's LGBT community — almost 5,000 people in all," said Kevin Boyer, former Co-Vice Chair of Chicago 2006. "From the enthusiastic entry of more than 11,000 athletes at the Soldier Field Opening Ceremony, the full week of camaraderie, to the Closing Ceremony at Wrigley Field with Cyndi Lauper, everyone who was there has a special memory about the 2006 Gay Games."
The special display to be unveiled at the Center on Halsted was designed by David Woody, Director of Design & Development at Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry and a member of the Chicago 2006 Board, with support from Tracy Baim, Publisher of Windy City Times who was Co-Vice Chair of Chicago 2006. The display contains photos and artifacts from the event.
About the Gay Games
The Gay Games is an international sporting and cultural event held every four years under the founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best. Launched in 1982, the Games invite participation from everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic or artistic ability, age, physical challenge or health status. The Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006) and Cologne (2010). The 2014 Gay Games be held in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, August 9-16, 2014. For more information visit www.gaygames.org, or www.gg9cle.com .
