The 2018 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 10 or Gay Games X, were an international multi-sport event and cultural gathering organized by, and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) athletes, artists and musicians. It was held from August 4 to August 12, 2018, in Paris, France. Approximately 10,000 athletes from 91 nations participated in 36 sports and cultural events. It was the first time they took place in a French-speaking city. The motto was All Equal.
It was an international sporting and cultural event, which was intended to be open to everyone. The objective was to fight against all forms of discrimination (sexual orientation, gender identity, disability) through the practice of sport, to show the diversity of the LGBT community and the general population. 40,000 visitors were expected.
Bidding process
On July 31, 2012, the FGG announced that seven cities had been approved as prospective bidders. The groups were from Amsterdam, Netherlands; Limerick, Ireland; London, United Kingdom; Orlando, Florida, United States; Paris, France; and a group proposing to host the Gay Games in either Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, Brazil.
By August 31, 2012, letters of intent to bid had been received from all groups except those in Brazil. In December 2012, the FGG announced that several requests from bidders to add new sports to the program of the games. Of these requests, that for the inclusion of polo was rejected, while those for archery, boxing, fencing, pétanque, roller derby and wheelchair rugby were approved. Of these, boxing, pétanque, roller derby and wheelchair rugby were included in the bids of the three finalist bidding organizations.
Bid books were provided by February 28, 2013, with a Q&A held over April and May 2013. A shortlisting vote took place on May 31, 2013, resulting in the shortlisting of Limerick, London and Paris as the final three cities to continue on the 2018 Bid cycle. Shortlisted cities received a 4-day visit (inspection sites) from a team of FGG inspectors (4 delegates + 1 CM) in July 2013. The final vote took place in Cleveland (Ohio, USA) during the 2013 Annual General Assembly. On 7 October, Paris was elected host city for the 2018 Gay Games.
The bid committee obtained the support of the Minister of Sports Valérie Fourneyron, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo and the President of the Île-de-France Region Jean-Paul Huchon, as well as the Olympic champion Laura Flessel. The official launch took place on October 2, 2017.
Organization
Organizing Association
The event was organized by the "Paris 2018" association, created in 2012 and declared to be of general interest. It was co-chaired by Michel Geffroy (2012-February 2014) and Chris Fanuel (2012-May 2014), then Manuel Picaud (February 2014-March 2019) and Evelyne Chenoun (February–June 2015) and Pascale Reinteau (March 2017-March 2019). The association was dissolved in March 2019.
Finance
The organization had a planned cost of approximately 4 million € and the estimate of the economic benefits was 58 million €. Half of the financing was provided by crowdfunding, a quarter by the public authorities and the last quarter by a partnership with private companies. The head of sponsorship described the great difficulties he had in obtaining these few supports. The infrastructures were made available by the City of Paris as well as the State and the Île-de-France Region. The economic impact was calculated after the event by the independent institute of the University of Kent: the impact reached 66 million € to which must be added 41 million € of impact on employment, i.e. more than 100 million €.
Opening ceremony
The community village on the forecourt of Hôtel de Ville, Paris was inaugurated on Saturday August 4 at 9 a.m. On this occasion, the International Memorial Rainbow Run took place, a race dedicated to victims of AIDS, breast cancer and discrimination.
The ceremony itself took place at the Stade Jean-Bouin from 5 p.m. There was the parade of athletes by nation and a big show around the theme of coming out and equality with the presence of Ada Vox, drag queen awarded in the United States. Were present in particular the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the Minister of Sports Laura Flessel and the couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier. It continued with a gala evening at the Grand Palais with DJ Offer Nissim.
Sport
The events concerned more than 36 sports disciplines. The objective of the events was the pleasure of sport, surpassing oneself, rather than performance. All participants get a medal.
