Chicago organizers of Gay Games® VII announced that their new Web site—GayGamesChicago.org—will launch May 28, with online early registration for the 2006 Gay Games going 'live' the first week of June.
GayGamesChicago.org will feature detailed information about each of the 30 sports being offered at Gay Games VII including venue specifications, biographical sketches of sports managers, participation schedule, and information about competition levels, age divisions and more. Band and choral events will be featured equally in detailed descriptions. The Web site will also include information about the City of Chicago, its history, people, neighborhoods, landmarks and cultural institutions. Full details about travel, lodging, and transportation will help Gay Games VII participants plan their 2006 visit to the Windy City.
Participants will be able to log on to GayGamesChicago.org, select the sport or cultural event in which they want to participate, complete the online forms necessary to place them in the appropriate competitive, age, or gender division, and pay their registration fees—all in one seamless operation.
'Early registration will be important for those who are eager to save money and to reserve space in their sport,' said Suzanne Arnold, Chicago 2006 Sports Co-Chair. 'Several Gay Games sports have historically reached their capacity limits soon after registration has launched.' By registering early, participants save up to 30% off the base registration fee.
Web site visitors will also be able to purchase collectible logo-imprinted merchandise, volunteer to help with the Gay Games, learn how to sponsor the Gay Games or donate funds, sign up for a quarterly electronic newsletter and read inspirational stories about athletes who have participated in previous Gay Games. Additional features will be added throughout the summer of 2004 and into 2005, including ticketing for Opening Ceremonies at Soldier Field, Closing Ceremonies at Wrigley Field, special shows and finals of some sports. The Web site will be translated in Spanish, German, and French in the near future with more languages added in the coming months.
'Chicago's entire team—volunteers, vendors, and sports/ culture experts—have accomplished something very extraordinary,' said Gene Dermody, former Co-President of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and head of the FGG's Registration Advisory Board. 'Less than three months after being awarded the Gay Games, they are prepared to launch a highly complicated Web site with the features and benefits athletes and cultural participants will need to register for Gay Games VII.'
'Our joint commitment to a complete and accurate registration system has been the hallmark of our partnership with the FGG's worldwide sports experts these past 2 months,' said Tracy Baim, co-chair with Jefferson McCarley of the Gay Games VII Technology Committee. 'In addition to the FGG's experts, our vendor partners and volunteers deserve a great deal of recognition for taking so much time out of their lives to establish an online registration system more quickly than any previous Gay Games.'
The Web site design is by Materville Studios and Lime, Green Tangerine. The registration site is by Afficient.