The Federation of Gay Games believes that the Gay Games are an extraordinary tool for promoting personal empowerment and social change. Because of this, the long-term success of the Gay Games are the most important work of the FGG. The first step in ensuring this success is the choice of our host organization.A board director, our Officer for Site Selection, is in charge of this process, which begins some seven years before the Games with the publication of a request for proposals to interested parties.
Sports groups, LGBT organizations, tourist and sport commissions are among the bodies that typically bid to host the Gay Games. Whatever the origin of the bid, close ties to local LGBT sport and culture groups is essential for the success of a bid.
Typically three or more bidders enter the process, with the key point being the submission of 250-plus page bid book containing information about the bidder’s plans for the full range of aspects needed to put on a successful Gay Games. The areas covered range from their sports and culture program to opening and closing ceremonies to the many operational aspects such as IT, marketing, finance, health and safety, logistics, etc.
At the same time, bidders are busy responding to questions and requests for clarification about their bid from FGG member organizations, board members and volunteers.
The process concludes with a three-day in-person site selection meeting, at the end of which the voting delegates of the FGG choose the Gay Games host. This meeting takes place in the city that will host the Gay Games the following year, leaving the new host nearly five years to implement their operational plan and create yet another edition of “the Games that Change the World”.
