Gay Games VII

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Gay Games VII, colloquially called the Chicago Gaymes, is part of a family of international sports and cultural festivals called Gay Games, sanctioned by the Federation of Gay Games and organized by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community of the host city of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The competition took place July 15 – July 22, 2006. The official Gay Games VII slogan was "Where the World Meets."

Actual athletic events were played in venues scattered throughout Chicago and its suburbs, all participating in the Gay Games through special permissive votes in their respective town or village councils. Cultural events included concerts and performances by the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho, Megan Mullally, among others added to the festival's feel and charm. Contemporary artists also provided exhibitions as part of the Gay Games.

Cyndi Lauper sings at Gay Games VII's Closing Ceremony at Wrigley Field.
Photo: Jim Provenzano

Corporate sponsorship was key in planning Gay Games VII, garnering support for global advertising from large companies like Absolut Vodka, American Airlines, Ernst & Young, Fleishman-Hillard and Walgreens. Media relationships were created with the Chicago Sun-Times, New York Times, ChicagoPride.com and the National Broadcasting Company. Advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign offered substantial funding for the event, as well.

Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago organizers hoped that success of Gay Games VII would help prove to the United States Olympic Committee of Chicago's viability in hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.

1 Originally awarded to Montréal, Canada
2 Opening Ceremony
3 Venues
4 Sporting events
5 Results[1]
- 5.1 Host country performance
6 Closing ceremony
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Originally awarded to Montréal, Canada

The seventh edition of the Gay Games was originally planned for Montréal, Canada in 2006, but the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) removed its sanction after differences arose between it and the Montréal 2006 organizing committee. For more information on the change of host cities, see the Schism in LGBT sports communities over Gay Games VII section of the Gay Games article.

[edit] Opening Ceremony

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Soldier Field hosted the opening ceremonies of Gay Games VII.

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The concept for Opening Ceremony, conceived and directed by Kile Ozier [kileozier.com], was to tell the parallel stories of the evolution of the GLBT Community as community and as individuals; giving it a global context and relevance. The four acts represent the four stages of this evolutionary process as envisioned by the Director: Exclusion - that moment when we discover that we may not fit into the world as we might have thought, growing up...the moment of discovery of difference; Oppression - the manifestation and formalization of the dynamic initiated in Exclusion...homophobia, gay bashing, contemplation and execution of suicide out of despair...ending with the embracing of self and the beginnings of hope; Expression - the power of community and standing up for oneself, of coming out of the closet, finding Like Others, celebration of individuality and difference within even our own communities; Ignition - the taking of all this powerful energy and philosophy and lighting the world with the ideals of enlightenment and acceptance.

At the midway point of the Ceremony was the "Exhortation to a Weary Army," a reinvigoration to the community in the worldwide fight against AIDS, given from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and tribute to Tom Waddell, the founder of the global Gay Sports movement and the Gay Games.

The ceremony took place on July 15, 2006 in Chicago's Soldier Field and consisted of five parts:^[1]

[edit] Prologue

DJ Frankie Knuckles, the “Godfather of House” played music for the prologue
The Procession of over 11,000 Athletes and Participants of Gay Games VII in a record 46 minutes
Oath to the Athletes and Participants led by David Kopay
The National Anthem of the United States of America - Christy Fairbairn, Windy City Gay Idol 2006
Oath to the Officials - Billy Bean, Saskia Webber
Welcome by Chicago Games Inc. - Co & Vice Chairs: Sam Coady, Suzanne Arnold, Tracy Baim, Kevin Boyer
Responsibility for Change - Megan Mullally
Welcome by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

[edit] Act I “Exclusion”

Choreography by Iega Jeff
Special appearance by Erasure’s Andy Bell
Presentation by Kate Clinton
Welcome - Co-Presidents of the international Federation of Gay Games: Kathleen Webster and Roberto Mantaci
Legends of Women’s Music: Holly Near, Barbara Higbie, Nedra Johnson, Teresa Trull

[edit] Act II “Oppression”

Choreography by Joel Hall
Special Appearance by Erasure’s Andy Bell
Presentations by Staceyann Chin, George Takei, Jorge Valencia
Rainbow Run for the End of HIV and Cancer: Brent Nicholson Earle, Rob Hadley, Renae Ogletree, Modesto "Tico" Valle
Tribute to Tom Waddell, founder of the Gay Games Movement
Tom Waddell Award- presented by Greg Louganis and Jessica Waddell Lewinstein
Performance by Jody Watley
Keynote address by United States Ambassador James C. Hormel
The Quilt - Keith Boykin delivering the “Exhortation to a Weary Army”

[edit] Act III “Expression”

Choreographed by Michele Lynch
Performance by the cast of “Avenue Q”
Presentations by David da Silva Cornell who read from "Knocking On Your Closet Door; Come Out and March With Us" and by Margaret Cho
Erasure’s Andy Bell sings "A Little Respect"
“Proud” - Heather Small
Presentation of the Federation of the Gay Games Flag
“Take the Flame” the Official Anthem of the Gay Games, performed by Esera Tuaolo