Editing Gay Games (section)

=== Gay Games XI: Hong Kong – Guadalajara 2023 ===
{{main|2023 Gay Games}}

[[Hong Kong]] was announced as the host city of the 11th Gay Games, at a gala event at the Hotel de Ville in Paris, on October 30, 2017. They won with a clear majority of votes, in the first round of voting. It is the first time that the Gay Games have been held in Asia.

The "longlist" of cities interested in bidding to host Gay Games XI in 2022 was announced in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/gay-games/federation-of-gay-games-announces-prospective-2022-gay-games-xi-bid-cities/1233582700003975 |title=Archived copy |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602144027/https://www.facebook.com/notes/gay-games/federation-of-gay-games-announces-prospective-2022-gay-games-xi-bid-cities/1233582700003975 |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> An unprecedented seventeen cities were interested in bidding.  On 30 June 2016, the Federation of Gay Games announced that eleven cities had submitted their Letter Of Intent to formally bid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/gay-games/federation-of-gay-games-announces-cities-continuing-2022-gay-games-xi-bid-proces/1285749498120628 |title=Archived copy |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602144020/https://www.facebook.com/notes/gay-games/federation-of-gay-games-announces-cities-continuing-2022-gay-games-xi-bid-proces/1285749498120628 |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  Anaheim, Atlanta, Des Moines, Madison, Minneapolis and San Antonio decided not to pursue their option to bid. On July 31, 2016, nine cities submitted their second registration fee to remain in the bid process. Both Cape Town and Tel Aviv dropped out at this stage, stating an intention to bid for Gay Games XII in 2026. On November 30, 2016, Bid Books were submitted by eight candidate cities with Los Angeles dropping out at this stage.

A shortlist of three Candidate Cities was announced on March 1, 2017.  Guadalajara, Hong Kong and Washington, DC, hosted site visits before the final decision on the host city was made in Paris on Monday 30 October, where Hong Kong was announced as the host city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gaygames.org/latest-news/5429694|title=2022 Gay Games XI Host City Announcement|access-date=2023-08-09}}</ref>

Due to issues relating to the global coronavirus pandemic, the date of the Games was pushed back from 2022 to 2023. On 14 February 2022, Guadalajara was added as the co-host of this games.<ref name="washblade">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/02/17/guadalajara-to-co-host-2023-gay-games-with-hong-kong%EF%BF%BC/ |title=Guadalajara to co-host 2023 Gay Games with Hong Kong |website=The Washington Blade |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=May 20, 2022 |author=Chibbaro Jr., Lou }}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:35%"
|-
! Shortlisted Candidate Cities
|-
|- style="background:gold;"
| {{HKG}} (original host)
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} Guadalajara (co-host)
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Washington DC
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
! Longlisted Candidate Cities
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Austin, TX
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Dallas, TX
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Denver, CO
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Salt Lake City, UT
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} San Francisco, CA
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="width:35%"
! Dropout Candidate Cities
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Anaheim, CA
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Atlanta, GA
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|South Africa}} Cape Town
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Des Moines, IA
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Los Angeles, CA
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Madison, WI
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Minneapolis, MN
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|- {{flagicon|USA}} San Antonio, TX
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|Israel}} Tel Aviv
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|}
{{col-end}}Both events were attended by over five thousand participants<ref name=":3" /> across the two sites, who took part in a week of sports and culture.

The overwhelming tone of the comments from the Hong Kong participants was positive and appreciative. Participants and attendees congratulated the organizers on a job well done, expressing enjoyment and meaningful experiences at the Gay Games in Hong Kong. Many thanked the committee for their hard work, appreciating the inclusive atmosphere, and expressing gratitude for making history and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. There's acknowledgment of the difficulties faced, but the general sentiment is one of praise and thankfulness for a successful event in Hong Kong. 

Participants in Mexico overwhelmingly expressed gratitude and praise for the Gay Games in Guadalajara. They describe it as a life-changing and pure experience that blends sport, culture, coexistence, and community.  Many commended the organizers, highlighting the fantastic overall organization and the meaningful connection to local culture. Despite some acknowledging challenges, the general sentiment is one of appreciation, excitement, and a strong desire to participate again, particularly in Valencia 2026. The positive experiences range from the warmth of kindness, excellent event management, and the welcoming nature of Guadalajara to the joy of being part of a global LGBTQ+ community.