Gay Games IX :: So Many Reasons to Go

The Gay Games are just about as big as the International Olympics in terms of the number of athletic participants the events draw, say organizers. While world-class cities, including Stockholm, Munich, and Davos/St. Mortiz have pulled out of the competition to host the 2022 Olympic Games because of lack of support of local residents, Washington, D.C. and Boston lost out to Cleveland in a vigorous competition to host Gay Games 9.

The experiences of recent host cities to the Olympic Games seems to have borne out what economists have been saying for decades: The quadrennial events almost always cost more than expected to host --�yet generate less revenue and durable usefulness of the purpose-built infrastructure that comes with the games.

While the International Olympic Organizing Committee has even failed to keep Krakow, Poland, interested in hosting the 2022 games, the Federation of Gay Games has cities like Paris clamoring to host its event. (In fact, Paris all host Gay Games 10 in 2018.)

Just why did Cleveland, Ohio, beat out cities like Boston and Washington, D.C. for Gay Games 2014?

"One reason is the community and the region went all out and showed how much they wanted the games," says Tom Nobbe, executive director of Gay Games 9. "This region's LGBT community is one hundred percent behind the effort, and so is the rest of the region's community."

Noting that northeast Ohio is home to about 2.5 million people, Nobbe adds, "The region is one of the best-kept secrets with a very well accepted, highly integrated and very large LGBT community. We hope to change that lack of awareness nationally and internationally this summer."

Among the lineup of events that participants and spectators will enjoy are: Badminton, bowling, body-building, cycling, diving, figure skating, golf, ice hockey, marathon, martial arts, rowing, swimming, track-and-field, triathlon, wrestling and volleyball - to name just a fraction of the events scheduled for GG9.

"We've got thirty-six-plus sporting events," says Nobbe, who has played semi-professional beach volleyball. "We've got 6,500 athletes in the pipeline and we're expecting 8,000 to 9,000.

"The coming influx of tens of thousands of athletes, spectators and volunteers has the Akron-Cleveland area ripe with anticipation," continues Nobbe, who assures his hometown is going to be ready to impress. "We're doing great," he told The Rage Monthly. "It's going to be a special experience unlike some of the other big metro areas. There's a lot of other big happenings during the week as well; the region is really anticipating this event.

"It's important to remember," Nobbe adds, "that Gay Games 9 is as much a cultural festival as a sporting event." Boy George is one of the headlining acts at GG9, happening Saturday, August 9 through Saturday, August 16. Other entertainers playing during the event are Ana Matronic, singer-songwriter of top-selling, Grammy-nominated band, Scissor Sisters; electro-pop star, Bright Light-Bright Light, who has been called "the hottest new thing in music" by Sir Elton John; and Queer as Folk star, Hal Sparks-to name a few.

But of course, competitive sports are the main attraction. We spoke with two veterans of past Gay Games who will be at the 9th installment of the games next month in Akron-Cleveland. One of those two athletes is bodybuilder, Doug Graham, 58 of Palm Springs. "This is my second go 'round with the Gay Games," Graham told The Rage Monthly. "The first time was eight years ago in '06, in Chicago. It was, for me then, not just a contest but rather a way for me to reclaim my life."

Graham won a silver medal in 2006. But just nine months earlier, he was facing a deadly case of salmonella poisoning and was being worn down by years of living with HIV/AIDS. "This also included dementia so severe that this member of Mensa could not even figure out how to dial a phone," he says, recalling how the love and care of friends and family - and determination to go to the 2006 Gay Games - saved him. "I found out about the Gay Games four months before they were to happen, and dedicated myself to reclaiming my life by competing there on stage." This year Graham will return to the Gay Games and compete in the Masters Category of bodybuilding.

Champion bowler Jim Hahn is even more of a Gay Games veteran, having been at every event since 1982. Asked whether the games have changed the way society views the LGBT community, he questions the construct of the question itself.

"Because the games have not been as visibly integrated in to the public sphere as, say, a Pride celebration, I believe they really benefit us, particularly as a source of pride in our collective selves," Hahn says. "I believe the Games give us the chance to feel better about each other." It is important to note, all are welcome to participate and enjoy the Gay Games, regardless of sexual orientation or athletic ability.

But Jim Hahn, who was inspired by Gay Games founder, Dr. Tom Wadell, to participate from the event's inception more than a quarter century ago, believes the games have done more to improve LGBT people's view of themselves than to impact how non-LGBTs see us. "They are very successful... in terms of the opportunity for the LGBT community to enjoy and to participate in something of our own success," he says.

For information about participating, volunteering or just attending the 2014 Gay Games 9 as a spectator, go to gg9cle.com