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December
2004
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10,
9, 8, 7… The Countdown Is On!
Early
Registration Closes New Year’s Eve!  Every
year the world celebrates the close of one year and the dawn
of another. This year, the countdown takes on new meaning.
If you act before midnight, 31 December, you will save US$50
on your Gay Games VII Registration.
Registration for the Gay Games is easy. Complete our online
registration form, make your payment, and you’re registered.
Your fee is in two parts – the base registration fee is just
$125 now, but it goes up to $175 on January. Your sport/culture
participation fee varies and will not change January 1.
What do you get when you register for the Gay Games?:
• Participate in
your choice of sport or cultural event
• Opening Ceremony ticket – prime seats!
• Closing Ceremony ticket – prime seats!
• FREE Week-long Transit Pass
• Gay Games VII Participation Medal
• FREE Spectator pass to most sports
• FIRST CHANCE at special event tickets
• Program Guide
• Souvenir Bag
• Collectible Participant ID/Accreditation
• Discounts from Area Merchants
• FREE Gifts from our great sponsors
• Special Online Gifts until 2006
• Plus, of course, the chance to be part of the legacy of
the Gay Games.
Do one more great thing in 2004.
Register
for the Gay Games today. |
P.S.
If you’re like us, you may not be sure which of the 30
sports is best for you in 2006. We understand. Register
for the sport in which you are most likely to compete
and if you change your mind, let us know next year and
we’ll modify your registration record. Or take advantage
of our prepay option – reserve a spot in the Gay Games
at the early bird rate and give us more details later.
Either way – you can save $50, but only if you act
now. To register now, visit our website at
GayGamesChicago.org. |
Pre-Pay
for the Gay Games
Save $50 For Everyone On Your Team
 Beginning
Wednesday 15 December, Gay Games VII offers Pre-Pay functionality
on our registration website. This new feature allows anyone
(sponsors, clubs or teams) to pay the registration fee for
a team or for individuals. This is great for those wishing
to pay for an entire team at one time or organizations choosing
to sponsor several different participants to save 30% with
the early registration discount.
Each player's personal information isn’t necessary at the
time of Pre-Pay. Simply provide us with the number of spots
you are pre-paying and a credit card – we give you a confirmation
code good for the number of spots you’ve purchased.
For more information visit www.GayGamesChicago.org
or call 773-907-2006 to Pre-Pay now. |
New
Sport - Squash!
Chicago and the Federation
of Gay Games are proud to announce the addition of Squash
to the lineup for Gay Games VII.
 Originally
left off the schedule in favor of Racquetball (an “either/or”
choice asked of the Chicago hosts), the FGG Sports Committee
and the Gay Games Sports Directors agreed that this racquet
sport – featured at the last four Gay Games – will once again
be offered.
Racquetball and Squash
will both take place in the North Sports Village at Northwestern
University. In fact, our North Sports Village is quickly becoming
a "Racquet Sports Village" where you can experience Tennis,
Badminton, Racquetball, and Squash all in one village.
Registration for Squash
is now
open. |
 Calling
All Sports and Cultural Organizations
Partner
Up with Gay Games VII!
What do wrestling, figure skating
and martial arts have in common? If you answered “each will
be played in the Gay Games,” you’re right. But you could have
also answered “their international LGBT associations are all
members of the Gay Games Partner Program.” Twenty six organizations
have already joined the one-month-old Gay Games Partner Program.
Is your city team or
sports association a member? To learn more about how this
program connects organizations with athletes and artists to
help ensure a successful Gay Games, visit our Online
Partner Program page. |
Housing
Reservations Now Available Online
20,000
Room Nights Go On Sale for 2006 Sports and Cultural Festival
 Athletes,
artists and fans planning to attend Gay Games VII in Chicago,
15-22 July 2006, can now make reservations at several downtown
hotels online
from the Gay Games website. Offered in partnership with area
hotels, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and One
Stop Chicago, the online reservation system provides access
to the large block of reasonably priced accommodations reserved
last spring by Chicago organizers of the Gay Games.
In this first phase,
nearly 20,000 room nights are available at nine separate downtown
Chicago hotels with room rates starting at US$109/night, a
discount of as much as 50% off regular hotel rates.
The online system is designed for both international and domestic
visitors, accepts major credit cards, and has an interactive
capacity allowing individuals to modify their reservations
online.
Read more online. |
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From the Worlds
to the Gay Games:
Rudy
Galindo Is Newest Ambassador
 Jumping,
gliding, spinning at the chance — however you want to describe
it in skating terms, Rudy Galindo is thrilled to join the
Gay Games Ambassadors in support of the quadrennial LGBT sports
event, now more than 20 years old. Galindo will also serve
as Honorary Figure Skating Chair for Chicago's Gay Games VII.
"I've heard about the Gay Games for years and cannot wait
to be part of my first one in Chicago" Galindo said. "So much
of what the Gay Games promotes about being out and open in
the sports world is exactly how I have lived my amateur and
professional skating career." Read the whole story online. |
| Pictured
above, left to right, are some of the Gay Games Ambassadors:
Former NFL Player Esera Tuaolo, Melissa Etheridge,
baseball player Billy Bean, actress and director Amanda
Bearse, Olympic gold medal swimmer Bruce Hayes,
and actress Judith Light. Far right, Patricia
Nell Warren, athlete and author of "The Frontrunner."
Warren is the honorary director of Gay Games VII Track
and Field Competition. |
   
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Thank
you, Cologne!
Quicker than you say "Kolsch,"
the LGBT community of Cologne, Germany, made everyone from
Chicago feel welcome as nine people traveled there for the
2004 Annual Meeting of the Federation of Gay Games.
Kolsch is a beer with a 1,000-year tradition and made by only
22 brewers in Cologne (Koln in Germany) and its suburbs. Served
in tall, deceptively small glasses, we can report from some
experience that you can quickly down 3 or 4 glasses before
you realize the Germans really know their beer! Rest assured,
gentle reader, that no Gay Games volunteers were harmed as
we researched the favorite brands of Kolsch at Cologne's many
LGBT watering holes. We cannot say the same regarding some
other complimentary beverages - some of which were lit ablaze
as part of the fun. Eight days of fun later, and with just
one second degree burn, the Chicago delegation returned home
all safe and sound with fond memories of our new friends in
Germany.
 The
fourth largest city in Germany with almost 1 million people,
Cologne is home to one of Europe's largest and most successful
LGBT sports groups - Sport Club Janus. SC Janus was the host
of the Annual Meeting and the meeting was superbly organized.
Well done!
The Chicago team made three presentations during the Annual
Meeting - one to the FGG's Host Advisory Board, a group of
10 to 12 FGG Directors who work on a regular basis to ensure
our partnership is working smoothly and effectively. Excruciating
financial and logistical details are presented to the HAB
who scrutinizes them and ensures that Chicago is achieving
excellent progress as Gay Games VII approaches. Our second
presentation was to the full FGG Board of Directors and guests.
With details ranging from sports venue to corporate sponsorships,
financial controls to cultural programming, Chicago's team
of 9 delivered our "State of the Games" message to roaring
approval.
Finally, we held a Gay Games Rally where directors talked
about the work they've done within their organizations to
promote the Gay Games, and everyone received a complimentary
Gay Games messenger bag (see
photo). The Kolsch may have been flowing in the evening,
but everyone worked hard during the day. Congratulations to
the entire team at S.C. Janus in Cologne, and the entire board
of the FGG for an excellent Annual Meeting. Cheers! Editor's
Note: Our favorite bar in Cologne was Ex
Corner. Fun staff, friendly customers, and right in the
heart of Cologne's "Bermuda Triangle," an area with dozens
of bars, restaurants and retail stores just for our community. |
Smile
- You Could be on TV!
Q
Television and Chicago Sign Landmark Deal
 We're
proud to announce that we've finalized our relationship with
Q Television. Plans to offer widespread, international television,
radio and Internet broadcast of the 2006 Gay Games are set!
Currently available
on RCN Cable in Boston, San Francisco and New York, Gay Games
VII television, radio and Internet broadcast rights were granted
under the provision that Q will be available in 150 markets
by July of 2006.
 Q
Television is a pay cable station. In addition to significant
market expansion over the next 19 months, and in order to
reach a significantly larger market during Gay Games VII,
Q Television Network will be unscrambled during the 8 day
sports and cultural festival so that everyone can view the
coverage whether they've paid for Q Television or not. Such
broad television coverage has never been available in the
history of the Gay Games.
It is Q Television's
intent to have its signal up linked not only for the national
audience, but also for an international audience. Q Television
is currently in negotiation with television stations for the
redistribution of its signal internationally. In addition
to the negotiations, Q has arranged for its signal to be rebroadcast
with a bundled foreign network, thus making the games available
world wide.
 "Partnering
with the Gay Games for all media outlets, including the Internet,
is a feather in the hat of Q Television," said Frank Olsen,
President and CEO of Q Television Network. "The Gay Games
is an event that should be available for all the world to
see and we are in negotiations to make our signal available
to do just that."
View details online. |
 Hello
Chicago
Join
The Home Team!
For everyone from
Chicago, there is a special feeling of pride that our hometown
will be the host of Gay Games VII. Chicago will take its place
alongside some of the world’s greatest cities as host of the
Gay Games. San Francisco, Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam,
Sydney, and now Chicago stand together as part of that legacy.
At the beginning of
the 2006 Opening
Ceremony, Team Chicago
will enter Soldier Field at the end of the parade of athletes
as 60,000 roar in support of Our Kind of Town. It brings a
lump to our throat just to think about it.
Chicago area athletes
and artists are banded together like never before and have
launched our own Gay Games registration campaign. “Join the
Home Team” starts now with an eye to the early bird
registration deadline of 31 December. |
Chicago
Badminton League Forms
 Chicagoans
excited about hosting the Gay Games in 2006 are working through
the Chicago Metro Sports Association to found Chicago's first
LGBT Badminton League. The new league will play its
inaugural season at Margate Park Fieldhouse. The Badminton
league is open to both women and men and will offer two levels
of competition. The first season of play will be doubles with
plans to play singles and mixed doubles in future seasons.
League
play will be Thursdays 7pm to 9pm beginning 13 January and
experience is not necessary. All levels are welcome. Read
more online. |
FREE!
Sunday, 19 December
You're Invited to our Holiday Party
 Gay
Games VII warmly invites the entire community to join
us for a holiday celebration at the spectacular Windy
City Field House on Sunday, 19 December from
12 noon - 4:00pm. The Windy City Field House is located
at 2367 W. Logan Blvd (Logan and Western). We welcome
Gay Games VII volunteers, sponsors, participants, the
Chicago sports and cultural community and anyone interested
in learning more about Gay Games VII.
-
Complimentary
hors d'oeuvres and beverages
-
Great giveaways from Chicago businesses
-
Entertainment
and sports demonstrations
-
Gay
Games videos & a special Chicago athlete slide show
-
Open
gym: Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton
|
Aquatics T-shirts
STILL AVAILABLE!
 Whether
you're a swimmer, water polo player, diver, or a fan, these
special Gay Games VII Aquatics T-shirts are sure to
be a hit. These shirts were created especially for the International
Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) 2004 Championships
in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The first order of
100 shirts sold out in 3 days. So we've reordered and they're
available
to aquatics athletes and enthusiasts alike. |
| Volunteers!
If you want to join a committee,
or are just interested in learning more about the Gay Games
and how you might help, we welcome your participation. Prospective
volunteers should contact out Volunteer Coordinator to receive
materials in advance. Details available online.
This is part of our monthly volunteer orientations. These
will be scheduled at different parts of the city. The next
volunteer orientation session will be in January. If interested,
RSVP
to Kashaun or Amelia. |
| Did you know
that most committee meetings are posted on the Gay Games website
on the Calendar
page? |
  
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| Sponsors
Chicago Games, Inc. is proud
to partner with a wide range of sponsors for Gay Games VII
in 2006. We offer several global sponsor levels, with a wide
range of benefits both in advance of the Gay Games and during
the week-long events. New sponsors since last signup include:
Girlfriends,
Windy City Fieldhouse,
Edge Magazine,
PinkAgenda.com, Planet
Beach. Business sponsorships are also available and have
been crafted to include significant benefits to local or regional
businesses. For information on how you can become a sponsor,
call our office at (773) 907-2006 or email.
Watch our
website for new sponsor announcements all the time, and
be sure to thank our sponsors! |
   
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| Contribute
To Gay Games VII
The Gay Games Movement is big
- very big - and expensive. Dedicated to reducing bigotry
and stereotypes through sport and culture, and with a nearly
25-year-long legacy affecting millions worldwide, the Gay
Games is the kind of nonprofit organization that we can all
be proud to support. More than 50,000 have participated in
the Gay Games since they began in 1982 - and that's just the
athletes and artists.
Please become a
donor or sponsor. Online contributions can be made using
your credit card or checking account. Business sponsorships
start at $500, and higher level individual donations come
with some great benefits. To donate individually, visit
our website.
To become a business sponsor, call us at (773) 907-2006, email
us, or visit us online. |
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| Gay Games
VII Online Store - Now Open
Be among the first to get official
Gay Games VII merchandise: t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball
caps, greeting cards, messenger bags and coasters. Visit
GayGamesChicago.org
and select "Store" to see all the great items available today. |
| Open
Your Own Logo Store & Help GGVII FREE!
You’ve got the talent &
drive, but let’s face it -whether you run, swim or dance your
way to the Windy City, you need funds for: Teamwear &
Gear, Training, Travel Expenses & More! Click Here
for details. |
| Newsletters
If you would like to be on
our e-newsletter list, send us an email to info@gaygameschicago.org. |
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