2017 World Outgames Bids

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The Gay and Lesbian Interantional Sports Association (GLISA) has just published the bids for the 2017 World Outgames: Reykjavik, Iceland and Miami Beach, United States. GLRF will be traveling to the GLISA 2013 Annual congress to be held on Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium and will cast its two votes for one of the bids.

 

We encourage all GLRF members to review the bids listed below before casting a vote here. We will attempt to get any amplifying information that you need so that you can make a careful and considered decision. This is a discussion topic so please, do discuss!!!! We also really encourage everyone to click on the "follow this topic button" so you can be notified when others have posted.

 

The bids are both big and the file sizes are enormous (Miami Beach - 80 mb; Reykjavik - 16 mb).

 

Reykjavik_2017_Bidv2.pdf

 

Miami_Beach_2017_Bid.pdf

 

For the Reykjavik bid, the only information for rowing is on page #25. We did query their bidding committee about possible registration fees and more details. Here is their reply:

 

Yes we are offering Rowing as part of our application to host the World Outgames. Rowing would then become the Legacy of GLISA in Reykjavik as the sport does not exist in Iceland and the dream was to develop it with GLFR, and FISA. We have been allocated a beautiful lake 15-20 min drive from the main sporting venues.

 

In regards of fees we have been made aware of that Rowing plays a special role and we would like to work with you on the matter for all parties to be pleased with. We worked our bid very much in regards of Copenhagen and Antwerp.

 

We also asked for the location of the lake. Here it is: Lake Ellidavatn.

 

For the Miami Beach bid, go to page # 69 (don't you just love that???? heh heh ...).

 

At first glance, both bids offer rowing.

• The Reykjavik bid does not offer any details on the rowing event but we did get an update on their plans for rowing - see the quote above. The dates of the Reykavik bid are listed on page #3 of the bid, as 21 May - 03 June 2017.
  
• The Miami Beach bid does offer details on rowing. We can tell you immediately that their proposal is an attempt to show as much detail as possible when in fact the actual venue has neither been finalized nor has the local rowing club signed on and actually agreed to host an event (as far as we know). GLRF was contacted by the Miami Beach bidding committee and we provided as much guidance as possible but it would be premature to assume that what has been submitted in the bid is accurate. Because GLRF has hosted the Miami Rowing Festival for two years, we know the host club, Miami Beach Rowing Club, and its directors very well. We also know, the location very well. The alternate location is off of Biscayne Bay at the location of the Miami Rowing Club, and we also know some of their coaches and directors. One final note of clarification: GLRF never ever postulated or stated that we are a sanctioning organization. It is the belief of GLRF that in rowing, sanctioning should be left to the national governing bodies of rowing. GLRF did enthusiastically embrace and volunteer to be the official rowing partner if Miami Beach is chosen for the 2017 World Outgames. Huge difference!!! The only dates for the entire event that we could find in the Miami bid is for the Human Right Conference portion: 24 - 26 May 2017. We have to assume the Sports/Culture event follows immediately thereafter
  

For those of you who are immediately blown away by the huge scope of the bids, welcome to the world of bidding for gay and lesbian multi-sport events. We are available most days for chat on here or you can post a reply. We can certainly offer some of our observations, given our experience in reviewing bids and being involved in so many gay rowing regattas at the Gay Games and the Outgames. Rather than skew your opinions, we'd rather you looked things over first.

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The vote was held in Antwerp on 28 Feb 2013. The exact vote numbers were not released.

 

Miami Beach won the vote and signed the contract to host the 2017 World Outgames.