At the end of the month, we’ll know if Dallas is a finalist to host the 2022 Gay Games when the Federation on Gay Games narrows the list of bid cities from eight to just three.
What does that mean? If we get the green light, it’s go time to show off our city and how we’ll (impeccably) pull off the Gay Games here. If we don’t, well…it’s the end of the line.
Thinking positively, Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission — the group that’s organizing our city’s Gay Games bid — gives us a glimpse of what the Gay Games in Dallas might look like:
More than 15,000 athletes are expected to participate in the eight-day competition, which will run Saturday-to-Saturday sometime in June 2022. With friends and family in tow, that number swells to up to 30,000 total visitors coming in for the big event.
We’ll host 30 sports, including old favorites like volleyball, softball, track & field, basketball and swimming (hello, hottie swimmers!). There will also be some newer ones like rodeo and cheer – its first year as a sanctioned Gay Games sport…go, Dallas!
About half a dozen cultural events, which may take the form of concerts, a film festival and, of course, fabulous opening and closing ceremonies, will keep visitors and Dallas supporters alike entertained and inspired.
Dallas’ downtown convention center will serve as the hub of activities, but they’ll also be using facilities at Fair Park and SMU.
The other cities in the running at this point include San Francisco (so cliche!), Salt Lake City (seriously?!), Denver, Austin, Washington DC, Hong Kong and Guadalajara, Mexico. It’s pretty fab that two of the eight are here in Texas, isn’t it?!
If the answer is yes, a Gay Games delegation will swing by in May to see our Big D. After that, Monica and others from Dallas will be in Paris in October for the final presentation.
How can you help make this happen? Community support and involvement is part of the Gay Games’ consideration process, so here’s something you can do now: Follow Dallas Gay Games on Facebook.
You never know, it may pay off in eye candy dividends in five years…
