PARIS TO HOST 1OTH GAY GAMES

The city of Paris has been selected as the location for the 2018 edition of the Gay Games, the world’s largest LGBT sporting and cultural event open to all.

The French capital was chosen over fellow finalists Limerick (Ireland) and London to organise the tenth Games.

The international delegates and board of directors of the Federation of Gay Games voted for Paris on Monday at the end of a three-day meeting, featuring site inspection reports, question-and-answer sessions, committee reviews and an oral presentation by each bidding organisation.

This meeting was held in Cleveland, host with Akron, of the 2014 Gay Games, set to take place next year from 9 to 16 August.

“The vote is the result of dozens of individual choices, but some points stood out for many voters. Paris proposed a wide range of sports in quality venues, many of which offer good visibility for the event,” commented David Killian, co-chair of the FGG Site Selection Committee.

He also explained that “French LGBT sport organisations already have a great deal of experience hosting international multisport tournaments, and their LGBT community presents outstanding cultural events. They are already well advanced in planning, for example, with the designation of a dedicated sports manager.

Killian added that the French bidding team “arrived with demonstrable political support, including Minister for Sport Valerie Fourneyron and five-time Olympic fencing medallist Laura Flessel, who were part of the presentation team. And of course Paris is a great destination to visit or revisit.”

In 2005, Johannesburg mounted a bid for the 2010 Gay Games, but lost out to Cologne, Germany; reportedly in a very tight race.