2014 Gay Games

Last updated
IX Gay Games
Cleveland-Akron 2014
Cleveland Gay Games Logo.png
Host city Cleveland
Akron
CountryUnited States
MottoGo all out
Nations50
Athletes8,000
Events37 sports
OpeningAugust 9, 2014 (2014-08-09)
ClosingAugust 16, 2014 (2014-08-16)
Opened by Barack Obama
Main venue Quicken Loans Arena
Website www.gg9cle.com

The 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9 or Gay Games IX, were an international multi-sport event and cultural gathering organized by, and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) 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 8,000 athletes from more than 50 nations participated in 37 sports and cultural events.

Contents

Bidding Process

Bids
Flag of the United States.svg Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., United States
Flag of the United States.svg Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, United States
Cancelled
Flag of the United States.svg 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. Gay Games Opening Ceremonies (8-9-14) (14947239005).jpg
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

EventVenue
Athletics: road races (5k) Cleveland zoo entrance.jpg Cleveland Metroparks Zoo [10]
Aquatics: Open Water Swim Edgewater Park [11]
Badminton Tinkham Veale University Center - UH Seidman Medical Center - Church of the Covenant (27491913275) (cropped).jpg Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) [12]
Basketball [13] Woodling Gymnasium
CSU Recreation Center (Cleveland State University)
Beach volleyball Wendy Park (2505294047).jpg Wendy Park (Whiskey Island)
Bodybuilding Entrance - Public Auditorium (30204493650).jpg Public Music Hall [14]
Cheer Entrance - Public Auditorium (30204493650).jpg Public Music Hall [15]
Dancesport Renaissance Cleveland Hotel (2348183530).jpg Renaissance Cleveland Hotel [16]
Darts Renaissance Cleveland Hotel (2348183530).jpg Renaissance Cleveland Hotel [17]
Diving Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University) [18]
Racquetball Tinkham Veale University Center - UH Seidman Medical Center - Church of the Covenant (27491913275) (cropped).jpg Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) [19]
Rowing Rivergate Park [20]
Sailing View of Cleveland, Ohio from Edgewater Park (9123965994).jpg Edgewater Yacht Club [21]
Squash Tinkham Veale University Center - UH Seidman Medical Center - Church of the Covenant (27491913275) (cropped).jpg 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 Tinkham Veale University Center - UH Seidman Medical Center - Church of the Covenant (27491913275) (cropped).jpg Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) [25]
Tennis Malaga Complex (Cleveland State University) [26]
Triathlon Marine Week Cleveland 120605-M-QX735-171.jpg East 9th Street Pier at Voinovich Park (North Coast Harbor) [27]
Water polo Tinkham Veale University Center (27809762363).jpg Veale Natorium (Case Western Reserve University) [28]
Wrestling Horsburgh Gymnasium (Case Western Reserve University) [29]
Volleyball Cleveland August 2015 11 (Cleveland Convention Center).jpg Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland [30]

Ceremonies and Other Events

EventVenue
Chorus Playhouse Square (cropped).jpg State Theatre [31]
Closing Ceremony These Knees (8-13-14) (14950517235).jpg Cleveland Mall [32]
Opening Ceremony Gay Games Opening Ceremonies (8-9-14) (14760674887).jpg Quicken Loans Arena [32]
Team Band Competition Playhouse Square (cropped).jpg State Theatre [33]

Akron

EventVenue
Athletics: road races (10k)Mustill Store Trailhead [10]
Football (soccer) Copley Road Soccer Complex [34]
Golf FirestoneCountryClub (cropped).jpg Firestone Country Club [35]
Marathon and Half marathon
start/finish		 South Main Street HD, Akron.jpg Akron Civic Theatre [36]
Martial arts AkronJohnKnightCenter.jpg John S. Knight Center [37]
Softball [38] Cascade Valley Metro Park
Colonial Salt Field
Firestone Stadium CIMG7643.JPG Firestone Stadium
Track and field 400m hurdle finish at Gay Games 9 Cleveland + Akron (14968816191).jpg Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex (University of Akron) [39]

Other Sites

EventVenueLocation
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

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

Ida Keeling set the fastest known time by a 99-year-old woman for the 100-meter dash at 59.80 seconds; at the time the relevant USA Track & Field webpage did not include a 100-meter record for US women older than the 90–94 age division. [51] [52]

Kinnon MacKinnon, at age 28, became the first openly transgender man to earn a gold in powerlifting at the Gay Games. [53]

See also

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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. 9 August 2014.
  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 (10 August 2014). "Obama Makes Surprise Video Appearance at Gay Games Opening Ceremony: WATCH". Towleroad: A Site With Homosexual Tendencies.
  10. 1 2 "5k and 10k Road Races". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Open Water Swim". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Badminton". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Basketball". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  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.
  16. ↑ "DanceSport". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Darts". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Diving". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Racquetball". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Rowing". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Sailing". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Squash". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Swimming". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Synchronized Swimming". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Table Tennis". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Tennis". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Triathlon". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Water Polo". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Wrestling and Grappling". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Volleyball". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Choral". Gay Games 9. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  32. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. ↑ "Brian Jacobson Lowers 50 Free Masters World Record At Gay Games". Swimming World News. 14 August 2014.
  51. ↑ Ron Dicker (2014-08-14). "99-Year-Old Sprinter Ida Keeling Leaves Aging In The Dust".
  52. ↑ "99-year-old great-great-grandmother sets 100 meters record at Cleveland Gay Games". Gay Star News. 15 August 2014.
  53. ↑ "PHOTOS: Meet the First Trans Man to Win a Gay Games Gold in Powerlifting". Advocate.com. 17 September 2014.
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