Although the majority of registrants for Gay Games 9 this summer in Cleveland are from the U.S., there already are confirmed participants from 30 other countries.
"One of the biggest surprises is the interest we have received from African and South American countries, as well as from Russia," said Rob Smitherman, events director for Gay Games 9 and a former Chicago resident. "It still remains to be seen if they will be able to get the funds and meet the Visa requirements, but it is so encouraging that these people are willing to brave the daily challenges in their lives that most of us cannot imagine, and still want to come to the Gay Games. We are trying to support them as much as possible."
The 2014 Gay Games, presented by the Cleveland Foundation, is one of the biggest sports and cultural festivals, a quadrennial event scheduled for Aug. 9-16 in Cleveland and Akron—with more than 30 sports, including darts, bowling and softball, plus two cultural events ( band and chorus ).
The most popular sports so far are swimming, tennis, marathon/half marathon, bowling, plus the 5K and 10K runs. In fact, registrations totals for the marathon, half marathon, and the triathlon are higher than at this point in past Gay Games, Smitherman said.
No sports are closed as yet, but Smitherman said they are getting close to limiting new teams for sailing. Plus, golf—which is being held at Firestone Country Club, just two weeks after the PGA Bridgestone Invitational takes place at Firestone—is close to closing, too.
General registration ends May 31, though late registration ( with added expenses ) will be accepted until July 15.
No sports will be dropped due to low registration, Smitherman said.
"We have adjusted sports, however, due to the changing nature of gay sport tournaments in the U.S. and around the world," he said. "We are finding that more athletes want to have a tournament that lasts three or four days instead of a week, as in past Gay Games. We believe there are several reasons for the change, including more time to see other sports, participation in more than one sport, and less time off for U.S. participants. Therefore we have changed a few sports to have fewer days, including flag football and beach volleyball."
Smitherman confirmed that registrants for the marathon and half marathon also will receive free entry into the 5K and 10K races—and the 5K will be held in the Cleveland Zoo.
Diving has very few registrants so far, but Smitherman was not surprised due to the skill needed to participate. Racquetball and squash also each have low registration totals, "although those tournaments are going to be run at the same facility, so the combination should have good numbers," he said.
More than 20,000 people are expected to be a part of the week-long Gay Games 9, including participants, friends and family, local supporters and others, Smitherman said.
The opening ceremony, for the first time since Amsterdam in 1998, will be held indoors—at Quicken Loans Arena ( formerly Gund Arena ), the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as minor league hockey and football teams.
Lance Bass and the Pointer Sisters will headline the opening ceremony, which also will include Andrea McArdle, who will be part of the Broadway salute.
Smitherman said that the local organizing committee "learned from past Gay Games that we need to have a festive and celebratory closing ceremony." So, the 2014 closing ceremony will take place on the plaza in front of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with a party atmosphere of food, drinks, presentations, and a dance party. "It is such a signature attraction for Cleveland, and it is really iconic that we close out the Games with the Rock Hall as the back drop," he said.
Smitherman, who worked behind the scenes on the Games in Chicago ( 2006 ) and in Cologne, Germany ( 2010 ), said that Cleveland-Akron has embraced the Games "more than any city I have ever seen. I am surprised how much local press and acceptance that Northeast Ohio has for the Gay Games. The City of Cleveland, the City of Akron, and so many counties and municipalities have taken on the event and are providing amazing in-kind and other support," he said.
Cleveland and Akron are the smallest cities that have ever played host to the Gay Games. So while the gay areas of the past host cities have been the hot spots, the entire Cleveland downtown will be the "Boystown" of the 2014 Gay Games, Smitherman predicted.
Smitherman said he is most excited to see people who are participating in the Gay Games for the first time march into the arena, "and catch the emotions and thrill that comes from realizing they are accepted for who they are."
Smitherman confirmed that organizers are still working on additions to the schedule, with announcements planned in the coming weeks, including any additional celebrity involvement.
"One of the main reasons the Federation of Gay Games ( FGG ) chose Cleveland and Akron to host the 2014 Gay Games is to bring the event to the heartland of the United States and create change. That has already happened, with our push for sponsorships and community partners," Smitherman said. "The 2014 Gay Games has a slate of corporate sponsors that would have been unimaginable eight years ago in Chicago. Our community partners include members of the arts community throughout the entire region. We have more than a dozen faith partners standing with us."
Smitherman said the local organizing committee has certainly taken extra safety precautions for a safe-running Games—and they have been working hand in hand with local, state, regional and national law enforcement and safety groups.
"The City of Cleveland and City of Akron police departments are managing safety planning that has exceeded anything that I have seen in my involvement with the Gay Games in the past," Smitherman said.
With about three months until the Games open, Smitherman said they still are hard at work building local awareness, including all of the other fun activities, programs, parties and experiences that will occur that week.
"We are ready to welcome the world, whether guests to the region will be playing in the Games, or just coming here to have a wonderful vacation," he said. "There is so much national buzz on these cities right now. This is our time to shine and visitors will have a great time discovering what Cleveland and Akron have to offer."
Smitherman, who has played in the Coady RoundBall Classic several times in Chicago, is registered to play basketball in the Games, depending on his executive duties. He also might participate in tennis.
