THE committee behind Limerick’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games is busy finalising plans for the visit of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) site selection committee on July 3.
This follows the announcement earlier this month that Limerick, along with London and Paris, has been shortlisted from a number of locations that included Amsterdam, Orlando and Rio De Janeiro.
The Gay Games could provide a €50 million boost to the region with approximately 10-12,000 participants and 15,000 spectators expected to attend the 10-day event in August 2018.
Limerick 2018 communications coordinator Cillian Flynn said they had been working on this bid for the last 12 months and to be chosen along with London and Paris was a phenomenal achievement in itself.
“We believe that Limerick has the facilities, the resources and the determination to be successful and the event will showcase the world class facilities on offer in the region.”
The Gay Games is an international sporting and cultural event held every four years; it is open to anyone over 18, regardless or sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, political beliefs or ability. About ten per cent of participants are from outside the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
The committee has put together a full sporting and cultural programme including dance, martial arts, athletics, and for the first time in Gay Games history, boxing and wheelchair quad rugby – both of which were proposed by the Limerick team.
The majority of the events are expected to take place in UL and the UL Arena; other locations include Adare Manor, Ballyhoura, Thomond Park and Mary Immaculate College.
Inspectors will also visit a number of cultural venues including the Hunt Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art.
The Limerick Gay Games organisers will host a civic event in the Milk Market on Thursday, July 4 to officially welcome the selection committee and showcase many of the attractions on offer in Limerick.
The winning city will be announced on October 7 as part of the Federation’s annual assembly in Cleveland, Ohio, during which the bid committee will make a final presentation to convince the voters that Limerick is the right choice.
Further information on Limerick’s Gay Games bid is available at www.limerick2018.com; anyone interested in assisting the committee can email [email protected].
