Editing Gay Games (section)

== Host nations and cities ==

{{location map+|Earth|float=center|width=1000|caption=Host cities of the Gay Games|places=
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=37.7749|long=-122.4194|label='''[[San Francisco|1982,1986]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=49.2827|long=-123.1207|label='''[[Vancouver|1990]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=40.7128|long=-74.0059|label='''[[New York City|1994]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=left|lat=52.3702|long=4.8952|label='''[[Amsterdam|1998]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=-33.8688|long=151.2093|label='''[[Sydney|2002]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=41.8781|long=-87.6298|label='''[[Chicago|2006]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=50.9375|long=6.9603|label='''[[Cologne|2010]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=41.0814|long=-81.5190|label='''[[Cleveland|2014]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=48.8566|long=2.3522|label='''[[Paris|2018]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=22.3964|long=114.1095|label='''[[Hong Kong|2023]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=20.6668|long=-103.3918|label='''[[Guadalajara|2023]]'''}}
{{Location map~|Earth|position=|lat=39.2699|long=0.3763|label='''[[Valencia|2026]]'''}}
}}

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year !! No. !! Host City
|-
| align=center| [[1982 in sports|1982]]
| align=center| [[1982 Gay Games|1]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[San Francisco]], [[United States]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[1986 in sports|1986]]
| align=center| [[1986 Gay Games|2]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[San Francisco]], United States
|-
| align=center| [[1990 in sports|1990]]
| align=center| [[1990 Gay Games|3]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Vancouver]], Canada
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[1994 in sports|1994]]
| align=center| [[1994 Gay Games|4]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[New York City]],  United States
|-
| align=center| [[1998 in sports|1998]]
| align=center| [[1998 Gay Games|5]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[2002 in sports|2002]]
| align=center| [[2002 Gay Games|6]]
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|-
| align=center| [[2006 in sports|2006]]
| align=center| [[2006 Gay Games|7]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Chicago]], United States
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[2010 in sports|2010]]
| align=center| [[2010 Gay Games|8]]
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]
|-
| align=center| [[2014 in sports|2014]]
| align=center| [[2014 Gay Games|9]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Cleveland]]-[[Akron]], United States
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[2018 in sports|2018]]
| align=center| [[2018 Gay Games|10]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Paris]], [[France]]
|-
| align=center| [[2023 in sports|2023]]
| align=center| [[2022 Gay Games|11]]
| {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong]] and {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Guadalajara]], Mexico
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
| align=center| [[2026 in sports|2026]]
| align=center| [[2026 Gay Games|12]]
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Valencia, Spain]]
|-
|}

===Gay Games I: San Francisco 1982===
{{Main|1982 Gay Games}}
The 1982 games took place in San Francisco from August 28 to September 5, 1982. Singer [[Tina Turner]] performed at the opening ceremonies, and [[Stephanie Mills]] performed at the closing ceremonies. San Francisco was chosen as the location for the first Gay Games not only because it was the home of founder Tom Waddell, but also because the games had support from local government and essential services, and because there was a large gay and lesbian population in San Francisco that could serve as volunteers and leaders.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The opening ceremonies, held in [[Kezar Stadium]], began with former U.S. Olympians, [[George Frenn]] and [[Susan McGreivy]] lighting a flame that had been carried on a torch run across America, beginning in New York at the Stonewall Inn.<ref name="edited by Rita Liberti and Maureen M. Smith">{{Cite book|editor-first=Rita|editor-last=Liberti|editor2-first=Maureen M.|editor2-last=Smith|title=San Francisco Bay Area sports : golden gate athletics, recreation, and community|date=March 15, 2017|isbn=978-1-61075-603-7|location=Fayetteville, AR|oclc=964585786}}</ref> The original sports that were offered at the first Gay Games were; basketball, billiards, bowling, cycling, diving, golf, marathon, physique, [[powerlifting]], soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The gay games: a history|last=Symons|first=Caroline|date=2012-01-01|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415688666|location=London; New York|language=en|oclc = 796218476}}</ref> 1,350 competitors whose origins ranged from over 170 cities worldwide competed in the first Gay Games.<ref name=":0" /> In order to achieve greater inclusion and diversity, the organizers of the first Gay Games created outreach committees to attract and recruit athletes from minority groups including people of color, women, and rural lesbians and gays.<ref name="edited by Rita Liberti and Maureen M. Smith"/> Because Waddell disliked the nationalism of major sporting events like the Olympics, participants at the first games represented their cities rather countries, and competitive elements such as medal tallies, medal ceremonies, and recording athletic records were banned.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Gay Games II: San Francisco 1986===
{{Main|1986 Gay Games}}
The 1986 games took place in San Francisco from August 9 to 17, 1986. Singers [[Jennifer Holliday]] and [[Jae Ross]] were the featured performers during the closing ceremonies. There was an increase of competing athletes in the second Gay Games participants to over 3,500.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://ussporthistory.com/2014/08/21/the-gay-games-then-and-now/|title=The Gay Games: Then and Now|date=2014-08-21|website=Sport in American History|access-date=2017-03-10}}</ref>

===Gay Games III: Vancouver 1990===
[[File:San francisco spikes gay games 3 semifinal 1990 2 (12331719343) (2).jpg|thumb|The San Francisco Spikes soccer team at the Gay Games 1990]]

The 1990 games took place in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], from August 4 to 11, 1990. Approximately 7,300 athletes took part in 27 sports, with another 1,500 cultural participants attending. This was the first games to be held outside the United States, and it is also notable for being the first games in which Masters world records were set (two, in swimming).<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Opening Ceremonies: Out and Proud |url=https://www.communitystories.ca/v2/celebration-1990-canadas-gay-games_gay-games-du-canada/story/opening-ceremonies-part-one/ |publisher=Digital Museums Canada |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=20 February 2024 }}</ref> The opening and closing ceremonies were held at [[BC Place|BC Place Stadium]], which, 20 years later, hosted the [[2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|2010 Winter Olympics opening]] and [[2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]], making it a historic venue for both events.

The event was also heralded by controversy from social conservatives. A Fraser Valley church's members took out full page ads in ''[[The Vancouver Sun]]'' and ''[[The Province]]'' condemning the event as proof of an "impending sodomite invasion" and encouraging residents to gather at [[Empire Stadium (Vancouver)|Empire Stadium]] to pray against the event. The [[Premier of British Columbia|government of then-Premier]] [[Bill Vander Zalm]] refused to fund the event.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.globaltoronto.com/sports/Outgames+kick+Vancouver/5154928/story.html|title = Outgames kick off in Vancouver|author = Thomas, Sandra|publisher = [[Vancouver Courier]] via [[CIII-TV|Global Toronto]]|date = July 25, 2011|access-date = July 29, 2011|archive-date = March 20, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120320072319/http://www.globaltoronto.com/sports/Outgames+kick+Vancouver/5154928/story.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Original video documentation, photographs, and textual records related to Celebration '90 Gay Games III, originally gathered by Forward Focus, artist Mary Anne McEwen's production company and official [[videographer]] of the Games. The items are available via [[VIVO Media Arts Centre]]'s archive, both in-person by appointment or digitally online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebration '90 Gay Games III |url=http://archive.vivomediaarts.com/gay-games-iii/ |author=Mary Anne McEwen fonds |publisher=VIVO’s Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive |date=10 August 2017 |access-date=20 February 2024 }}</ref> The [[fonds]] includes 143 unedited 30-minute [[Betacam]] recordings of sporting competitions, cultural events, opening and closing ceremonies, backstage activities and interviews with organizers, athletes, artists, community representatives, and opponents. The fond also includes 240 photographs, Celebration ’90 ephemera, and extensive textual materials, including the Official Program. McEwen was a Vancouver-based [[LGBTQ]] activist, Gayblevision co-founder, and co-organizer of the first [[Vancouver Queer Film Festival|Out On Screen Film and Video Festival]]. The footage was shot in anticipation of a feature-length documentary entitled, "Legacy: The Story of the Gay Games" that McEwen was unable to complete due to insufficient funding. McEwen, a longtime VIVO member, bequeathed her personal archive to VIVO hoping that this footage would be made widely available.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.vivomediaarts.com/archive|title=VIVO's Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive |publisher=VIVO Media Arts Centre |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

===Gay Games IV: New York 1994===
The 1994 games took place in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], from June 18 to 25, 1994.

The games coincided with the 25th-anniversary events of the [[Stonewall riots]] and were themed on "Unity".<ref>{{cite web |title=Gay Games IV – Unity '94 |url=http://www.gaygames.com/en/games/gg4/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011112081111/http://www.gaygames.com/en/games/gg4/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2001 |publisher=[[Federation of Gay Games]] |access-date=February 6, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Actor Sir [[Ian McKellen]] gave the closing address at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] on June 25, 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gay Games IV Closing Address |work=www.mckellen.com  |url=http://www.mckellen.com/writings/940625gaygames.htm |access-date=February 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331110231/http://www.mckellen.com/writings/940625gaygames.htm |archive-date=March 31, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

There were over 15,000 participants that either competed in the sporting events or in cultural ceremonies in the Gay Games of 1994.<ref name=":0" /> [[Greg Louganis]], multiple-time World and Olympic Champion diver, served as the announcer and performed a spectacular three-meter springboard exhibition between events.<ref>{{Cite book|jstor=10.5749/j.ctt6wr7gv.59|title=The Nearness of Others|date=2014-01-01|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=9780816691791|editor-last=Caron|editor-first=David|series=Searching for Tact and Contact in the Age of HIV|pages=101–106|last1=Caron|first1=David|chapter=One Drop of Blood}}</ref> The sporting events of Gay Games IV expanded to thirty one from previous years, including but not limited to, flag football, figure skating, and the first ever internationally sanctioned women's wrestling.<ref name=":0" />
<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gay Games IV 1994 |url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/events/ggiv/ |website=Queer Resources Directory |access-date=30 March 2023}}</ref>

===Gay Games V: Amsterdam 1998===
[[File:Gay Games 1998 -7.jpg|thumb|[[Malaysia]]n delegation at the 1998 Games in Amsterdam]]
The 1998 games took place in [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]], from August 1 to 8, 1998. The opening and closing ceremonies took place in the [[Amsterdam Arena]]. The participants' medal was designed by the noted Dutch designer [[Marcel Wanders]].

===Gay Games VI: Sydney 2002===
The 2002 game took place in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], from November 2 to 9, 2002.  Sydney won the bid to host the games from other contenders which were [[Montreal]], [[Toronto]], [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]/Los Angeles and [[Dallas]]. The Games opening included a speech by out gay High Court of Australia Justice [[Michael Kirby (judge)|Michael Kirby]] and were officially opened by New South Wales Governor Professor [[Marie Bashir]]. When Gay Games VI was chosen to be in Sydney, Australia it was partially because of already present LGBTQI sport teams.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal|jstor=4124457|language=en|title=Boundaries of Desire: Becoming Sexual through the Spaces of Sydney's 2002 Gay Games|journal=Annals of the Association of American Geographers|volume=96|issue=4|pages=773–787|last1=Waitt|first1=Gordon R.|year=2006|doi=10.1111/j.1467-8306.2006.00811.x|s2cid=144445479}}</ref> The Sydney Gay Games were the first in the Southern Hemisphere and this was emphasized by the games theme "Under new skies".<ref name=":2" />

===Gay Games VII: Chicago 2006===
{{Main|2006 Gay Games}}
Gay Games VII were held in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], from July 15 to July 22, 2006. For more on the controversy surrounding Chicago's selection as host city, see [[#Schism in LGBT sports communities over Gay Games VII|Schism in LGBT sports communities over Gay Games VII]] below.

===Gay Games VIII: Cologne 2010===
{{Main| 2010 Gay Games}}
On March 16, 2005, the FGG announced that [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]; [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]; and [[Paris]], [[France]], were the official candidate cities for Gay Games VIII in 2010. Cologne was elected at the FGG annual meeting in Chicago on November 14, 2005.

The games were held in Cologne from July 31 to August 6, 2010. This marked the second time the games were held in Europe, with the first being in Amsterdam in 1998.

===Gay Games IX: Cleveland and Akron 2014===
{{Main| 2014 Gay Games}}
On March 17, 2009, the FGG announced that groups from [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]; [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]; and [[Washington, D.C.]], were finalists for the bidding to host Gay Games IX.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaygamesblog.blogspot.fr/2009/03/3-cities-submit-full-bidbooks-for-2014.html |title=Federation of Gay Games press release on submission of bid books for Gay Games IX |publisher=Federation of Gay Games |date= March 17, 2009 |access-date= January 21, 2013}}</ref>

On September 29, 2009, at the FGG Site Selection Meeting in Cologne, Germany, Cleveland was chosen as presumptive host of Gay Games IX in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaygamesblog.blogspot.fr/2009/09/gay-games-in-clevelanin-2014.html |title=Federation of Gay Games blog post on choice of host of Gay Games IX |publisher=Federation of Gay Games |date= September 29, 2009 |access-date= January 21, 2013}}</ref> The host organization, Cleveland Special Events Corporation, later expanded the host city to include nearby Akron, Ohio. They also chose to style their event as "Gay Games 9" rather than the traditional Roman numeral "Gay Games IX".

===Gay Games X: Paris 2018===
[[File:Gay Games 2018 Tennis competition 02.jpg|thumb|Tennis competition at the Gay Games 2018]]
{{Main| 2018 Gay Games}} 
On July 31, 2012, the FGG announced that seven cities had been approved as prospective bidders. The groups were from Amsterdam, Netherlands; [[Limerick]], [[Ireland]]; [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]; [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Florida]], United States; Paris, France; and a group proposing to host the Gay Games in either [[Rio de Janeiro]] or [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]].

By August 31, 2012, letters of intent to bid had been received from all groups except those in Brazil.

In December 2012, the FGG announced that several requests from bidders to add new sports to the program of the games. Of these requests, that for the inclusion of polo was rejected, while those for archery, boxing, fencing, pétanque, roller derby and wheelchair rugby were approved. Of these, boxing, pétanque, roller derby and wheelchair rugby were included in the bids of the three finalist bidding organizations.

Bid books were provided by February 28, 2013, with a Q&A held over April and May 2013. A shortlisting vote took place on May 31, 2013, resulting in the shortlisting of Limerick, London and Paris as the final three cities to continue on the 2018 Bid cycle. Shortlisted cities received a 4-day visit (inspection sites) from a team of FGG inspectors (4 delegates + 1 CM) in July 2013. The final vote took place in Cleveland (Ohio, USA) during the 2013 Annual General Assembly. On 7 October, Paris was elected host city for the 2018 Gay Games.
 
{| class="wikitable" width=25% align=center

|-
|-
|-
! Shortlisted Cities
|-
|- style="background:gold;"
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Paris]], [[France]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
|- style="background:silver;"
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Limerick]], [[Ireland]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
|- style="background:#c96;"
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
! Non-Shortlisted Cities
|-
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[United States]]
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
|-bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
|-
|}

=== 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.