Cleveland Wins Gay Games Over Boston and D.C.

CLEVELAND ROCKS!!!

On Tuesday, the Federation of Gay Games announced Cleveland as their chosen city to host the 2014 games. The Gay Games, started in San Francisco in 1982, is the world's largest specifically gay sporting and cultural event.

"The City of Cleveland is prepared to roll out the welcome mat to the LGBT athletes, their families and spectators from around the world," said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. "Fans of the Gay Games will find that Cleveland is a great place to celebrate sports and culture and that we have tremendous assets and amenities for them to enjoy. The sports and cultural environment here is truly a uniquely Cleveland experience, one they will cherish for years to come."

The Gay Games is a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell. Drawing as many as 12,000 participants, more than the Olympics, the 2010 Gay Games (www.games-cologne.com) will take place in Cologne, Germany, from July 31 to August 7, 2010.

Cleveland's 2014 Gay Games IX Sports & Cultural Festival is scheduled to take place August 9-16, 2014. The 8-day event will feature 30 sports, 4 cultural events, an Opening and Closing Ceremony and community and cultural events throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area. Gay Games generate $50 to $80 million in estimated local economic impact in additional to significant ongoing travel and tourism visibility benefits for the host city.