The Federation of Gay Games, meeting in Cologne, Germany, will announce which city will host the 2014 event: Boston, Cleveland or Washington, D.C. You can look at the three bids here.
2014 Gay Games site announced Tuesday
The Federation of Gay Games, meeting in Cologne, Germany, will announce which city will host the 2014 event: Boston, Cleveland or Washington, D.C. You can look at the three bids here.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 8:05 AM
July 18 , 2010
Organizers of 2014 Gay Games may be replaced
But the ‘intention is to keep it in Cleveland’
by Eric Resnick
Cleveland–Something has happened with the Cleveland group that is organizing the 2014 Gay Games in northeast Ohio.
“There is discussion about a shift in management, being dictated by the Federation of Gay Games,” said Positively Cleveland’s Communication Director Samantha Fryberger, “but the intention is to keep it in Cleveland.”
That could mean that the Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the group that put the proposal together, could be replaced.
The Synergy Foundation and its partners were called to a high-level meeting in Cleveland to discuss the matter on July 13.
The meeting was attended by Synergy founder Doug Anderson, Cleveland Chief of Government Affairs Valerie McCall, Positively Cleveland President Dennis Roche, Akron Summit County Visitor’s Bureau president Susan Hamo, bureau Vice President of Sales Dirk Breiding, and possibly others.
Only Fryberger would comment.
Her comment, however, confirmed speculation going around the Internet that Synergy may be replaced, and that the Cleveland selection is in trouble.
At the same time, Federation of Gay Games spokesperson Kelly Stevens confirmed that there are discussions going on about Cleveland that involve the federation’s co-presidents Kurt Dahl and Emy Ritt.
“I think we will have a comment in another week, but we’re not commenting now,” Stevens said.
In a later e‑mail, Stevens wrote, “We are very focused on events and planning for Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany.” Those games begin July 31.
“My focus is Cologne right now,” Stevens wrote. “I am sorry I do not have any comments for you.”
Anderson was reached after the Cleveland meeting.
“On advice of several people, we have no comment,” said Anderson. “When we have all the facts, we will make a statement.”
Asked what the facts involve, Anderson said, “No comment.”
Anderson was asked if Cleveland was in any danger of losing the Games.
“No comment,” Anderson said.
On July 6, Boston’s Spirit magazine published an article alleging foul play with the selection of Cleveland and Akron last year.
The other two cities in the running were Boston and Washington, D.C.
Anderson spoke to Spirit, as did his partner and Synergy co-founder Jeff Axberg.
“We tried our best to follow all of the rules and regulations, but there was some conflicting information from the Federation,” Axberg said. “On a personal level, I would love for a city in North America like Boston to host the Gay Games in 2018.”
Anderson and Axberg told Spirit that they were confused about the rules for the proposal.
The magazine reported that the rules limit the number of sports to 28. Cleveland proposed 40, including the golf event, which is to be held at Akron’s Firestone Country Club, 45 miles south of Cleveland.
“The guidelines also pushed cities to host events within a 15-minute radius, accessible by public transportation. Boston excelled in accomplishing this feat,” Spirit reported.
Issues are also being raised around financing and event management, questioning Synergy and the Cleveland bid’s commitment to securing long-term sponsors and ensuring the Games don’t lose money.
On July 9, Outsports.com reported that an unnamed person told them that the Cleveland Synergy Foundation “had left or been removed from their role as organizers of the Games.”
Anderson and Stevens both refused comment on that report.
However, both made attempts to discredit parts of the earlier article to this reporter, but would not say which parts were inaccurate.
Anderson called both articles “inaccurate.”
Asked what was inaccurate about them, Anderson replied, “No comment.”
Stevens said the Spirit piece is “an article by people who are unhappy about the site selection.”
“Every worst comment got in that article,” Stevens said.
Stevens said “the essence of it is true, but the facts are wrong.”
Stevens, however, would not say which facts were wrong nor offer any corrective information.