Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and a delegation of 23 city representatives are taking a weekend jaunt to Paris to pitch the nation’s capital as host of the Gay Games 2022, a quadrennial, Olympics-like event focused on the LGBT community.
The D.C. delegation left Thursday and will make its pitch in front of a federation committee. The group will return Monday.
Bowser said the event would be a financial boon to the city, with more than 15,000 participants and tens of thousands of spectators likely to attend the games. She said the city has committed to putting $2 million toward the games.
“We think, especially now, it is important for the United States to demonstrate that it is an open and welcoming place, and it is especially important for us as Washingtonians to show that we are an international city and we celebrate sport,” Bowser said.
The D.C. Gay Games Bid Committee paid for the travel to Paris, with no cost to taxpayers, said Brent Miner, chairman of the committee. Miner said Washington has 34 gay sports leagues, and all have raised funds for the trip. The bid also has corporate sponsors, including United Airlines and Hilton.
“We’re making our way to Paris on Jell-O shots,” Miner said of one fundraising method. “It’s fabulous.”
Bowser noted that the city has experience handling the security and demands that come with hosting major events. In January, the District hosted the presidential inauguration, and next year it will host the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The District also made unsuccessful bids to host the 2024 Olympics and the 2014 Gay Games.
Events for the Gay Games would mostly be staged in the District, although some, such as swimming, sailing and a triathlon, would be in Maryland and Virginia. The opening ceremonies would be at the yet-to-be-completed D.C. United Stadium in Southwest Washington, which is expected to be finished next year.
According to the city’s plans, the competitions would take place at parks and on the Mall, as well as at Gallaudet University and private establishments. The billiards competition, for instance, is planned for Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle.
The District’s bid application highlighted the city’s public transportation system, amenities and its ability to lure tourists.
"Our ability to attract large numbers of attendees from around the globe with our international status, compelling programs and exciting competitions will drive attendance and visibility for future games," the city's presentation pitch states.
Participation in the games is open to anyone, and teams fill up on a first-come-first-served basis. Each country has its own team, although some have multiple teams.
Miner, who has participated in the Gay Games in the past, said the delegation would make a 90-minute presentation in Paris explaining why Washington should host the games, then answer questions from decision-makers. He said the delegation’s size displays how deep the District’s support is for hosting the games and shows the international delegation who it would work with if the city is selected.
Council members Jack Evans (D-Ward 1) and Brandon T. Todd (D-Ward 4), along with Sheila Alexander-Reid, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, were among those traveling to Paris. Others in the delegation included community members and tourism industry leaders.
“For many who grew up in the LGBT community, we may not have had as many opportunities to compete in sports because we either didn’t feel comfortable or welcome,” Miner said. “So for many, it is an opportunity to live out that part of their life that they did not experience.”
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