Gay Today: World

Federation of Gay Games 2002
Expects Sydney Bonanza

Compiled By GayToday

Sydney, Australia--Sydney's tourism and retail sectors can expect a $500 million ($U.S. 260 million) boost as a result of the Sydney 2002 Gay Games it was announced today by the co-Presidents of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG), the international governing body of the Gay Games.

A fund-raiser for the Gay Games 2002 in Sydney

The Federation of Gay Games co-Presidents, Mr. Bill Wassmer (US) and Ms. Susan Emerson (UK), were in Sydney this week with 170 international FGG delegates for its annual meeting.

According to Ms. Emerson, Gay Games IV in New York and Gay Games V in Amsterdam, respectively injected an additional $U.S. 225--$U.S..350million into the local economies, which has been backed by reports from the Chambers of Commerce of both cities.

"Sydney has the opportunity to reap hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of the Gay Games Sport and Cultural Festival," said Ms. Emerson.

"This also does not take into account the likely employment boom associated with such a large scale event as the Gay Games in the services, retail and travel related industry," she added.

According to Mr. Wassmer, the boom will be a direct result of having a high majority of the 14,000 to 15,000 athletes and an additional 25,000 tourists lodging in Sydney's hotels rather than a separate 'athletes' village and using the services provided by the city such as restaurants and retail outlets.

"Hotels will be brimming with competitors and tourists with restaurants, retail, lifestyle and entertainment industries also benefiting from the high influx of visitors to the city," said Mr. Wassmer.

"In fact, Sydney has no idea about what it is about to experience in October and November 2002, " he added.

Gay Games VI Sport and Cultural festival will showcase 31 sports including distinctly 'Australian' flavored sports such as Touch Rugby and Netball, winter sports including Ice Hockey and Figure Skating as well as Track and Field, Swimming, Cycling, Sailing, Power lifting and Physique (Body Building).

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The cultural program under the direction of Ms. Robyn Archer will be of equally world class standing.

This week the Federation of Gay Games will deliver a report card on the progress of Sydney 2002 Ltd., the local organizing committee for Gay Games VI, as well as host 5 bidding teams from North America vying for the right to stage Gay Games VII in 2006.

Bid teams from Montreal, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles (2) will be joined by delegates from indigenous Australian and South Pacific communities, Eastern Europe and Argentina as part of the FGG and Sydney 2002 Ltd's funded Outreach program.

The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that ensures the quadrennial Gay Games takes place and safeguards its founding principles. The Federation of Gay Games is about inclusion, participation and personal best.

The Gay Games were conceived by Dr Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete in Mexico City in 1968, and first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,300 participants. Gay Games were also held in 1986 (3,000 participants), Vancouver in 1990 (7,000 participants), New York in 1994 (11,000 participants) and Amsterdam in 1998 (14,000 participants).

The Gay Games is open to ALL competitors and require no minimum standards to be eligible to enter.

The Federation of Gay Games will deliver its report card on the progress of Sydney 2002 Ltd. tomorrow, on Wednesday 8 November 2000.

Current sponsors of the Sydney 2002 Gay Games VI, Sport and Cultural Festival include QANTAS, Westpac Banking Corporation, Hertz, Gay.com, Satellite Media and Aussie Bodies.