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Looms for Host City Bids |
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Compiled By GayToday
After a 1994 study of Gay Games IV and the concurrent Stonewall 25 Celebration by the New York City Mayor's office estimated a positive impact of more than US$300 million on the local economy, potential hosts realized that far more is at stake than merely showcasing their hometowns to the gay and lesbian community. Approximately 14,000 people take part in the Gay Games' athletic and cultural events every four years, and tens of thousands more attend as spectators. At Gay Games V in 1998, and even without an added draw like Stonewall 25, the City of Amsterdam estimated a boost of 125 million Dutch guilders (US$55 million) to its region's economy. In addition, about 80% of those surveyed at those Games said they planned to return to Amsterdam within two years. Projections for Sydney's Gay Games VI in 2002 by Tourism New South Wales show a potential local and national benefit of at least A$100 million (US$60 million).
"Given the interest in hosting, this time we're limiting the number of finalists to no more than four," said Susan Kennedy, co-chair of the Federation's Site Selection Committee. The finalists will be selected from among all applicants and announced on 15 May 2001. An initial deposit of US$500 is due with the 1 June letter of intent. "The total bid fee for each 2006 finalist is [US]$7,500," said Site Selection Committee co-chair Richard Hogan. "But [US]$5,000 of that amount is not due until after the May 2001 elimination vote. When you compare it to what governments spend soliciting convention business and the potential return for the selected city, we frankly think these fees are a bargain." The fees cover copying and distributing the printed bids to the Federation board, expenses of on-site visits to the bidding city finalists, and multi-media presentation costs at the Federation's November 2001 annual meeting during which the 2006 host will be chosen. "We already have a good group of candidates although it would be great to have applicants from many regions of the world," said Sue Emerson, Federation co-president along with Wassmer. "I think the expectation may be that after 12 years it's time the Games go back to North America, and the number of North American groups expressing an interest so far is probably a reflection of that. However, there is still time for others to contact us."
Wassmer agreed. "No matter what part of the world a group is from,
there's something to be said for getting in line by putting in a bid," he
said. "Sydney's persistence paid off as they were candidates three
consecutive times before being selected as host for 2002." Gay Games VI will
take place in Sydney, Australia from 25 October to 9 November, 2002.
"Any one of the cities that bid the last time would have been a fine spot for the Games," said Emerson. "That's the trouble now -- with so many good candidates none of us will get to experience a Gay Games at all of them in our lifetimes." Parties interested in bidding for Gay Games VII should contact: Richard Hogan in Sydney at +61 (0) 2 9885 1970 or rhogan@ozemail.com.au; Susan Kennedy in Antioch, California at +1 (1) 925 754 4328 or suskennedy@aol.com; or the Federation of Gay Games at info@gaygames.org. The Federation of Gay Games' Web site is www.gaygames.org. |
Amsterdam was the host of the 1998 Gay Games. Sydney will host the next event in 2002 
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