Chicago picked as new host for Gay Games VII – with rowing

Following a three-month process in which Los Angeles and Chicago both applied to be the new, alternate host for Gay Games VII, the Board of Directors of the Federation of Gay Games voted today to select Chicago as the new host for the Gay Games VII. Both cities included rowing as one of their additional sports in their submitted bids. As a voting member, GLRF cast one of the deciding votes based on what would be best for both the athletes attending Gay Games VII and the financial viability of the event.

Since rowing is one of the three additional sports and not a core sport, it is not a guaranteed sport that must be presented at a Gay Games. Chicago has indicated that the sport is very popular in the region but that the rowing community must help to identify potential sponsors, help reduce costs, and ensure there are sufficient rowers who signed up to participate. So rowing is still in flux. The proposed participant fee is $85. This is in addition to the proposed base registration fee schedule: $125 for 2004, $174 for 2005, and $195 for 2006.

The proposed dates of the event are 15 Jul – 22 Jul 2006.