FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES ENDS ONE WORLD EVENT TALKS WITH GLISA
Rededicates priorities on Gay Games 10 in Paris, 2018, endeavors to
maintain relationship with GLISA
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, USA (03 MARCH 2016) – On Sunday 28
February, following seven years of ongoing negotiations, the
Federation of Gay Games Board of Directors voted to end further
discussions with Gay & Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA)
to consider creating a new unified organization to present a singular
quadrennial global LGBT+ sports, culture and human rights event.
The FGG released a statement on its website signed
by co-presidents Joanie Evans of London, UK and Kurt Dahl of Chicago,
USA. In it, the Federation Board explains its decision and its hope
that GLISA and the Gay Games can remain engaged moving forward.
According to Evans, “The Federation and GLISA have developed a very
cordial, positive working relationship over the past four years, which
made this decision difficult. But given the due diligence we
underwent, we concluded such a venture would be ‘High Risk.’ We
could not justify the major investment required to launch a new
organization now. Doing so would require valuable financial and human
resources that could better be spent helping Gay Games 10: Paris 2018
be the best Gay Games ever.”
The Federation remains open to continue its work with GLISA. “For
more than nine years, the Federation has offered GLISA an open
invitation to become a Member Organization in our General Assembly,”
stated Dahl. “There are many other ways we can support our shared
goals to create opportunities for LGBT+ athletes, artists and
advocates around the world, too.”
Gay Games 10 will take place in Paris 04-12 August 2018. Registration
opens later this year. GLISA will oversee its North America
OutGames in St. Louis this May, a World OutGames in Miami in 2017, and
another North America OutGames in 2020.