2014 Gay Games

The 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9, were an international multi-sport event and cultural gathering organized by, and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) athletes, artists and musicians.[1] It was held from August 9 to August 16, 2014 in Cleveland, with some events being held in the nearby city of Akron, Ohio. An estimated 10,000 athletes from more than 60 nations participated in 37 sports and cultural events.

IX Gay Games
Cleveland-Akron 2014
Host cityCleveland
Akron
CountryUnited States
Nations participatingmore than 60
Athletes participatingestimated 10,000
Events35 sports
Opening ceremonyAugust 9, 2014 (2014-08-09)
Closing ceremonyAugust 16, 2014 (2014-08-16)
Main venueQuicken Loans Arena
Websitewww.gg9cle.com

Bidding Process
Bids
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Washington, D.C., United States
Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, United States
Cancelled
Miami, Florida, United States

According to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG), fourteen cities expressed interest in hosting the event. During its annual meeting in Cape Town on October 28, 2008, the FGG announced that four American cities made the deadline and were thus in the running to host the games: Boston, Cleveland, Miami, and Washington, D.C.. Of these cities, Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. submitted bid books by the deadline. The FGG selected Cleveland as the host city on September 29, 2009 during its annual meeting in Cologne, Germany.[2][3][4]

Sponsors

On April 13, 2013, the Cleveland Foundation announced a US$250,000 grant as the presenting sponsor of the event, which was to be known as "The 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation," marking the first time the Gay Games had had a presenting sponsor.[5] In addition to local support from sponsors such as the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Indians, the Games saw major corporate sponsorship from large companies like Coca-Cola, Marriott, and United.

The United Church of Christ became the first religious denomination to be a major sponsor of the Gay Games as a fourth-tier silver sponsor of the Gay Games in 2014.[6]

Also announced as a major sponsor was Ernst & Young, with cash and in-kind services.[7]

Opening Ceremony
President Barack Obama makes a surprise appearance at the ceremony via video.

The Opening Ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Quicken Loans Arena. Featured stars at the ceremony included singer, dancer and radio host Lance Bass, Broadway actress Andrea McArdle, Alex Newell from Glee, former Olympian Greg Louganis, and The Pointer Sisters. President of the United States Barack Obama made a surprise video appearance.[8][9]

Events and Venues

The Games featured 37 disciplines of sport and cultural events throughout Cleveland-Akron region.

Cleveland
Event Venue
Athletics: road races (5k) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo[10]
Aquatics: Open Water Swim Edgewater Park[11]
Badminton Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[12]
Basketball[13] Woodling Gymnasium
CSU Recreation Center (Cleveland State University)
Beach volleyball Wendy Park (Whiskey Island)
Bodybuilding Public Music Hall[14]
Cheer Public Music Hall[15]
Dancesport Renaissance Cleveland Hotel[16]
Darts Renaissance Cleveland Hotel[17]
Diving Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[18]
Racquetball Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[19]
Rowing Rivergate Park[20]
Sailing Edgewater Yacht Club[21]
Squash Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[22]
Swimming Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[23]
Synchronized swimming Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[24]
Table tennis Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[25]
Tennis Malaga Complex (Cleveland State University)[26]
Triathlon East 9th Street Pier at Voinovich Park (North Coast Harbor)[27]
Water polo Veale Natorium (Case Western Reserve University)[28]
Wrestling Horsburgh Gymnasium (Case Western Reserve University)[29]
Volleyball Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland[30]

Ceremonies and Other Events
Event Venue
Chorus State Theatre[31]
Closing Ceremony Cleveland Mall[32]
Opening Ceremony Quicken Loans Arena[32]
Team Band Competition State Theatre[33]

Akron
Event Venue
Athletics: road races (10k) Mustill Store Trailhead[10]
Football (soccer) Copley Road Soccer Complex[34]
Golf Firestone Country Club[35]
Marathon and Half marathon
start/finish		 Akron Civic Theatre[36]
Martial arts John S. Knight Center[37]
Softball[38] Cascade Valley Metro Park
Colonial Salt Field
Firestone Stadium
Track & Field Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex (University of Akron)[39]

Other Sites
Event Venue Location
Bowling The Game of Wickliffe Wickliffe[40]
Cycling (Criterium) Downtown Lakewood Lakewood[41]
Cycling (Road Race/Circuit Race) Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation Brecksville[41]
Cycling (Mountain biking) Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation Strongsville[41]
Figure skating Serpentiti Arena Lakewood[42]
Flag football Barton-Bradley Recreation Field North Olmsted[43]
Ice hockey OBM Arena Strongsville[44]
Pool billiards Dave & Busters Westlake[45]
Rock climbing Kendall Cliffs Climbing Gym Peninsula[46]
Rodeo affiliated event Summit County Fairgrounds Tallmadge[47][48][49]

Records set

At 99 years old, Ida Keeling set an international sporting record at the 2014 Gay Games, becoming the first person in the 95-99 age category to run the 100 meters in an internationally certified race, running the race in 59.8 seconds.[50]

Brian Jacobson, at age 40, lowered the Masters long course world record in the 50 free to 23.31.[51]

Kinnon MacKinnon, at age 28, became the first openly transgender man to earn a gold in powerlifting at the Gay Games.[52]

See also

References
  1. The History of LGBT Participation in the Olympics Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Rothaus, Steve (January 29, 2009). "Gay Games: Cleveland To Host In 2014". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  3. "Miami a finalist for 2014 Gay Games". Miami Herald. October 28, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  4. "Three Cities Bid For Gay Games 2014". On Top Magazine. March 18, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  5. "Cleveland Foundation Awards $250,000 Grant to the 2014 Gay Games". The Cleveland Foundation. 2013-10-04. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  6. "UCC Becomes First Religious Sponsor Of Gay Games". Advocate.com.
  7. "Ernst & Young to sponsor 2014 Gay Games". Inside The Games. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  8. WKYC (9 August 2014). "President Obama makes video appearance at Gay Games". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
  9. Kyler Geoffroy. "Obama Makes Surprise Video Appearance at Gay Games Opening Ceremony: WATCH". Towleroad: A Site With Homosexual Tendencies.
  10. "5k and 10k Road Races". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
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  14. "Bodybuilding". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  15. "Cheer". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
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  31. "Choral". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  32. "Ceremonies". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  33. "Band". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  34. "Martial Arts". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  35. "Soccer/Football". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  36. "Marathon/Half Marathon". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  37. "Martial Arts". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  38. "Softball". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  39. "Track and Field". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  40. "Bowling". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  41. "Cycling". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  42. "Figure Skating". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  43. "Diving". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  44. "Ice Hockey". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  45. "Billiards-Pool". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  46. "Ice Hockey". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  47. "IGRA Rodeo At Gay Games 2014" (PDF). Gay Games Rodeo. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  48. "Rodeo". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  49. "Cleveland, Ohio to Host 2014 Gay Games". Towleroad. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  50. "99-year-old great-great-grandmother sets 100 meters record at Cleveland Gay Games". Gay Star News.
  51. "Brian Jacobson Lowers 50 Free Masters World Record At Gay Games". Swimming World News.
  52. "PHOTOS: Meet the First Trans Man to Win a Gay Games Gold in Powerlifting". Advocate.com.
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