Calling All Cheerleaders
Local sports enthusiasts ask for support at upcoming bid rally for the 2014 Gay Games
Washington is fighting three cities — Boston, Cleveland and Miami — in its bid to host the 2014 Gay Games, the world’s largest GLBT sports and culture event. It’s a fight Brent Minor wants to win.
To that end, Minor, chair of the 2014 Washington DC Gay Games Bid Committee, urges likeminded enthusiasts to join him Saturday morning, Feb. 21, for a rally in support of the bid.
”It’s basically a chance for people to come and learn more about our bid to host the Gay Games in 2014, to meet some of the leadership of the games, and for us to demonstrate to the world how committed we are as a city and as a community to bringing the games to Washington,” says Minor, who also serves as president of Team DC, a volunteer-based organization that encourages members of the GLBT community to get involved with sports by supporting local teams and athletes.
D.C. initially went up against 13 other cities last fall in the fight for the 2014 games by filing a letter of intent with the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). Now down to the final four, final bid documents are due to the FGG March 15. After that, one more city will be eliminated. FGG inspectors will make onsite visits to the remaining three.
This bid for the 2014 games marks D.C.’s first official bid to serve as Gay Games host. A past intention to bid for the 2010 games, as well as an effort for the ’98 games by various local organizations, never amounted to an official bid.
First held in San Francisco in 1982, the event has continued every four years since. The next Gay Games is scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany in 2010.
”Washington, D.C., has the long experience of being involved in the Gay Games,” Minor says. ”We have a gay and lesbian sports community, as well as an engaged GLBT community, and we have the facilities and the big community support. Part of the rally is to demonstrate that.”
Minor was co-president of the FGG but stepped down last year to ensure there was no conflict of interest in doing his part to have the games held in Washington.
The Feb. 21 rally will be held at 11 a.m. at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 Seventh St. NW.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
