Hong Kong is waving the rainbow flag high as the city has won the bid to host the 2022 Gay Games.
Heralding itself as the ‘Gateway to Asia’, Hong Kong beat Washington D.C. and Guadalajara, Mexico as host city for the games.
The city will become the first Asian city to host the world’s largest LGBT+ sports and cultural event in November 2022, expected to attract over 15,000 participants and a HK$1billion boost to the economy.
Not sure what the Gay Games are?
Think of an LGBT+ organised Olympics which welcomes everyone to participate regardless of sexuality, ability and gender.
The games are open to all who wish to participate, without regard to sexual orientation, and there are no qualifying standards ans competitors come from many countries, including those where homosexuality remains illegal.
Hong Kong was chosen by The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and announced by Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, at a Gala Reception in Paris on Monday following a final pitch by each city.
The Hong Kong bid team successfully passed a site visit to the city in June 2017 and clinched the final judging round based on the city’s world class sporting infrastructure, support across Asia as a regional host and evidence of growing diversity and inclusion in the city.
Bid Chair Dennis Philipse had linked Hong Kong’s bid success to its strong commitment to diversity as well as the city’s world class status since he founded the Hong Kong Bid Team back in 2014.
“This is testament to Hong Kong’s spirit and passion for increased inclusion and diversity; bringing the Gay Games to Asia and Hong Kong as host proves the growth in openness in the city and across the region,” Philipse said.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous support from our team and partners, and of course the competing teams from Washington DC and Guadalajara for their strong bids, encouraging us to work harder to win it for Asia,” he added.
Cathay Pacific was a supporter to the Hong Kong 2022 Gay Games bid. Pilots from the airline’s LGBT+ community will be flying the victorious bid team home.
Other key partners have included ABN AMRO N.V., AccorHotels.com, Asia Miles Ltd, Credit Suisse Hong Kong Ltd, Joint Dynamics Ltd, Herbert Smith Freehills, Ogilvy Public Relations, Okamoto Industries H.K. Ltd, Pure International Ltd, Sunpride Foundation and Linklaters LLP.
Hong Kong Bid Operations Director, Yannick Asselin said, “Asia was very supportive of the bid – in social media, at business and community events in Hong Kong, and through government and tourism representatives all playing a key role in showcasing the city’s welcome to the Gay Games.”
Hong Kong has big plans over the next 5 years to ensure the 2022 Gay Games will become a trailblazer for increased progress in diversity and inclusion in the world’s most populous region.
Doug White, Hong Kong Bid Sponsorship Director added, “The 2022 Gay Games will mark the 40th anniversary of the FGG event and its presence in Asia for the first time will offer significant opportunities to sponsors seeking to showcase their own diversity and inclusion progress.”
The 1994 Gay Games, held in New York City was the first to overtake the Olympics in athlete participation with 10,864 athletes compared to 9,356 at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 10,318 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The Games have previously been hosted in the USA six times, twice in Europe and once in both Canada and Sydney. The 2018 Gay Games will be hosted by Paris.
