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25 cities vie for honor of hosting Gay Games 2030

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The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) announced Wednesday the results of the initial bidding phase for 2030 Gay Games XIII, with 25 cities across six continents expressing their interest in hosting the event.

Notably, Liverpool came as one of the contenders for the event alongside London and Birmingham. Andi Herring from the Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation expressed confidence in Liverpool’s bid.

“Our commitment to making Liverpool City Region the most LGBT+ friendly region in the UK has gone from strength to strength in the past five years, combined with the region’s rich sporting history and renowned reputation worldwide makes the city region a fitting host,” Herring said.

“We’re always looking ahead to what events we can host in Liverpool and the wider city region, and we’re delighted to support LCR Pride in throwing our hat in the ring to host the Gay Games.”

Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member

Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture also expressed his enthusiasm about supporting LCR Pride’s bid to host the Gay Games.

“We’re a city committed to embracing all communities, and hosting the most successful Eurovision ever showcased how we – on a global stage – excel when it comes to fostering diversity, combining it with creativity and scouse flair,” Doyle said.

Other cities on the bidding list include Melbourne, Miami, San Diego, São Paulo, Frankfurt, Auckland, Cape Town and Vancouver.

Next phase of bidding

The next phase of the bidding process will be held in March, when each city will receive a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) outlining the documentation necessary for submission. They include the sports to be hosted, proposed facilities, funding arrangements, organizational structure and more.

The FGG will then have an initial face-to-face meeting with the bidders during the next Annual General Assembly, set for October 2024 in Washington, DC. During this assembly, bidders have the opportunity to participate in an information session, engage with FGG stakeholders and member organizations, present their Preliminary Bid Books and take part in Q&A sessions.

Over the next two years, the bidding cities will collaborate with the FGG and its member delegates to refine their plans. The host city announcement for the 2030 Gay Games XIII is scheduled for November 2025.

FGG and Gay Games

Founded in 1982, the FGG is dedicated to advancing equality in both sport and culture with principles of participation, inclusion and personal best. The FGG takes pride in fostering the empowerment of communities, encouraging them to engage stakeholders and unite in support of the global LGBTQIA+ movement, whether as athletes, artists or allies.

Through the Gay Games, the FGG seizes the opportunity to extend invitations to over 10,000 LGBTQ+ participants and allies, turning the week-long event into an important cultural and economic opportunity. Recent impact studies underscore the substantial economic impact of the event, with Paris (2018) registering €107 million and Cleveland/Akron (2014) at $52 million.

Originally conceived as the Gay Olympics by Tom Waddell, an American Olympic decathlete with a vision to share the Games’ spirit within his community, the event premiered in San Francisco in 1982. Over the years, it has traversed the globe, finding a home in Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam, Sydney, Chicago, Cologne, Cleveland+Akron, Paris, Hong Kong and Guadalajara.

Last year was the first time the Gay Games event was hosted by two regions, Asia and Latin America, with Hong Kong and Guadalajara serving as co-hosts. The next chapter of the Gay Games is set to take place in Valencia in 2026.

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