September 04, 2001|By Eric Zorn.
Chicago is one of four cities still in the running to host the 2006 Gay Games. And when promoters of our effort contacted me with this news, I had some of the same questions you might have:
Q. How do they make sure that the athletes competing in the Gay Games are gay?
A. They don't. The quadrennial event, which began in San Francisco in 1982, is open to all competitors "without regard to their sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political belief, physical ability, athletic/artistic ability, or HIV status."
Q. Right. But what percentage are straight?
A. "I'm sure that it's less than 10 percent, but I really don't know," said Kevin Boyer, a board member and spokesman for Chicago 2006, the committee trying to lure the games here. "I know that one of our strategies is to identify ways to be more inclusive of non-queer people in the Gay Games at all levels."
Q. How big an event is this?
A. The 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam had a reported 14,715 participants in its athletic and cultural events. A similar number are expected for the November 2002 Gay Games in Sydney, and Chicago promoters are projecting 21,500 participants and a quarter of a million spectators for July 8 through 15, 2006, should the Federation of Gay Games site selection committee choose us when it meets late next month.
Q. Which other cities have hosted?
A. Vancouver (1990) and New York City (1994).
Q. Which other cities are still in the running for 2006?
A. Los Angeles, Atlanta and Montreal.
Q. How good are our chances?
A. "We believe that our preparation is more advanced than that of the other cities," Boyer said. "We like our chances."
Q. If we win, what's it going to cost taxpayers?
A. Because the event will use only existing facilities and venues, government cash and in-kind contributions will be only $2 million. In return, Chicago 2006 figures the Gay Games will pump anywhere from $200 million to $500 million into the local economy. A good investment, in other words, and one to which Mayor Richard Daley has lent his support.
Q. What games are Gay Games?
A. Chicago plans to offer 30 athletic contests including basketball, beach volleyball, flag football, golf, ice hockey, body building, rugby, soccer, swimming and diving, a variety of track and field events including a marathon, ballroom dancing and figure skating.
Q. Do only same-sex couples compete in dance and figure skating competitions?
A. No. Most are male-female couples, Boyers said, because a size and strength difference between partners often gives a competitive advantage.
Q. So are the Gay Games serious sport?
A. Yes and no is my sense. The focus of the Gay Games does not seem to be on who wins with what score or in what time. Gaygames.org, the official federation Web site, does not offer results or records, and competitors generally pay entry fees for events which, as noted above, are open to all "without regard to ... athletic ability." You will not see daily medal standings (nationalism is de-emphasized; doing one's personal best is emphasized) or ESPN cameras everywhere. But at the same time, very skilled athletes from around the world always compete. These gays are good.
Q. Where will the Gay Games be held?
A. The Olympic-style opening ceremonies are planned for the hideously redesigned Soldier Field, competition will be at more than two dozen facilities in Chicago and Evanston, and the heart of the huge concurrent arts and humanities festival cultural village will be at Millennium Park.
Q. What's the point of this extravaganza?
A. To convert your children to the gay lifestyle.
Q. No, really.
A. The purpose is "to foster and augment the self-respect of lesbians and gay men throughout the world and to engender respect and understanding from the non-gay world," says the federation Web site. The glossy 100-page brochure that Chicago 2006 published to impress the selection committee envisions "a celebration--a multiethnic, spirited family reunion of sorts."
Q. Will organizers dye the Chicago River with the colors of the rainbow, the symbol of gay pride?
A. They will indeed.
