London and Liverpool have joined the race to host the Gay Games 2030, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has announced. Twenty-five cities on six continents have expressed interest in bidding by submitting an official response to the FGG’s Request for Information (RFI). The FGG will endeavour to maintain an “equitable, supportive, and transparent bidding process” which “empowers communities to mobilise their stakeholders and unite to participate in the global LGBTQ+ movement as athletes, artists, and allies”.
The Gay Games sporting and culture event is an opportunity to invite over ten thousand LGBTQ+ participants and allies to one’s region. The week-long event represents a critical cultural and economic opportunity providing economic impact. Recent impact studies reported Paris (2018) at 107€ million and Cleveland/Akron (2014) at $52 million. Read more about the economic impact of the Gay Games here.
Officer of Site Selection, Austin Manning, conveyed the excitement of the FGG in receiving such emphatic early interest in hosting Gay Games 2030. “This record breaking interest for hosting the 2030 Gay Games showcases a truly global sports and culture movement with regions around the world taking the first step in bidding to host the Gay Games quadrennial event.
“As regions and countries around the world continue to take legislative and social action to protect human rights and create pathways to equality for all, the 2030 Long List includes 25 cities committed to empowering, uplifting, and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community at home and abroad.”
In March 2024, each of the listed cities will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) detailing the documentation bidders will be required to submit, covering a broad range of subjects such as sports they plan to host, facilities they plan to use, funding, organisation composition, and more.
The FGG will have a first in-person contact with bidders at the next Annual General Assembly, October 2024, in Washington DC, USA, where bidders will be invited to attend an information session and interact with FGG stakeholders and member organisations, including presentation of Preliminary Bid Books and participation in Q&A sessions.
The next Gay Games will take place in Valencia, Spain. Further information HERE
