Time for Cleveland to lace up the spikes and start swinging because the 2014 Gay Games baton was passed to the city yesterday. The Federation of Gay Games announced Cleveland won the quadrennial games instead of Washington, D.C. and Boston last night in Cologne, Germany.
“The city of Cleveland is prepared to roll out the welcome mat to the LGBT athletes, their families and spectators from around the world,” Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson said in a statement yesterday, according to Advocate.com. “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.”
About 65,000 athletes are expected to attend the week-long event, generating revenue between $50 million and $80 million for the city and its businesses. Cleveland committed $4.5 million to the games.
The past host cities include San Francisco, Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam, Sydney and Chicago.
The 2014 Gay Games will take place Aug. 9-14 in Cleveland as well as surrounding areas such as Akron and Tallmadge. Four cultural events and 30 sports are expected.
Cologne, Germany will host the 2010 games. The Federation of Gay Games is an international organization overseeing the event.
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— Kim Brown
