2014 Gay Games

The 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9 or Gay Games IX, were an international multi-sport event and cultural gathering organized by, and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) athletes, artists and musicians.^[1] It was held from August 9 to August 16, 2014 in Cleveland, with some events being held in the nearby city of Akron, Ohio. An estimated 8,000 athletes from more than 50 nations participated in 37 sports and cultural events.

IX Gay Games
Cleveland-Akron 2014

Host city	Cleveland Akron
Country	United States
Motto	Go all out
Nations	50
Athletes	8,000
Events	37 sports
Opening	August 9, 2014 (2014-08-09)
Closing	August 16, 2014 (2014-08-16)
Opened by	Barack Obama
Main venue	Quicken Loans Arena
Website	www.gg9cle.com
← Gay Games VIII Gay Games X →

Bidding Process

Bids
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Washington, D.C., United States
Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, United States
Cancelled
Miami, Florida, United States

According to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG), fourteen cities expressed interest in hosting the event. During its annual meeting in Cape Town on October 28, 2008, the FGG announced that four American cities made the deadline and were thus in the running to host the games: Boston, Cleveland, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Of these cities, Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. submitted bid books by the deadline. The FGG selected Cleveland as the host city on September 29, 2009 during its annual meeting in Cologne, Germany.^[2][3][4]

Sponsors

On April 13, 2013, the Cleveland Foundation announced a US$250,000 grant as the presenting sponsor of the event, which was to be known as "The 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation," marking the first time the Gay Games had had a presenting sponsor.^[5] In addition to local support from sponsors such as the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Indians, the Games saw major corporate sponsorship from large companies like Coca-Cola, Marriott, and United.

The United Church of Christ became the first religious denomination to be a major sponsor of the Gay Games as a fourth-tier silver sponsor of the Gay Games in 2014.^[6]

Also announced as a major sponsor was Ernst & Young, with cash and in-kind services.^[7]

Opening Ceremony

President Barack Obama makes a surprise appearance at the ceremony via video.

The Opening Ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Quicken Loans Arena. Featured stars at the ceremony included singer, dancer and radio host Lance Bass, Broadway actress Andrea McArdle, Alex Newell from Glee, former Olympian Greg Louganis, and The Pointer Sisters. President of the United States Barack Obama made a surprise video appearance.^[8][9]

Events and Venues

The Games featured 37 disciplines of sport and cultural events throughout Cleveland-Akron region.

Cleveland

Event	Venue
Athletics: road races (5k)		Cleveland Metroparks Zoo[10]
Aquatics: Open Water Swim		Edgewater Park[11]
Badminton		Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[12]
Basketball[13]		Woodling Gymnasium
		CSU Recreation Center (Cleveland State University)
Beach volleyball		Wendy Park (Whiskey Island)
Bodybuilding		Public Music Hall[14]
Cheer		Public Music Hall[15]
Dancesport		Renaissance Cleveland Hotel[16]
Darts		Renaissance Cleveland Hotel[17]
Diving		Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[18]
Racquetball		Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[19]
Rowing		Rivergate Park[20]
Sailing		Edgewater Yacht Club[21]
Squash		Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[22]
Swimming		Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[23]
Synchronized swimming		Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University)[24]
Table tennis		Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University)[25]
Tennis		Malaga Complex (Cleveland State University)[26]
Triathlon		East 9th Street Pier at Voinovich Park (North Coast Harbor)[27]
Water polo		Veale Natorium (Case Western Reserve University)[28]
Wrestling		Horsburgh Gymnasium (Case Western Reserve University)[29]
Volleyball		Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland[30]

Ceremonies and Other Events

Event	Venue
Chorus		State Theatre[31]
Closing Ceremony		Cleveland Mall[32]
Opening Ceremony		Quicken Loans Arena[32]
Team Band Competition		State Theatre[33]

Akron

Event	Venue
Athletics: road races (10k)		Mustill Store Trailhead[10]
Football (soccer)		Copley Road Soccer Complex[34]
Golf		Firestone Country Club[35]
Marathon and Half marathon start/finish		Akron Civic Theatre[36]
Martial arts		John S. Knight Center[37]
Softball[38]		Cascade Valley Metro Park
		Colonial Salt Field
		Firestone Stadium
Track and field		Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex (University of Akron)[39]

Other Sites

Event	Venue	Location
Bowling	The Game of Wickliffe	Wickliffe[40]
Cycling (Criterium)	Downtown Lakewood	Lakewood[41]
Cycling (Road Race/Circuit Race)	Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation	Brecksville[41]
Cycling (Mountain biking)	Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation	Strongsville[41]
Figure skating	Serpentiti Arena	Lakewood[42]
Flag football	Barton-Bradley Recreation Field	North Olmsted[43]
Ice hockey	OBM Arena	Strongsville[44]
Pool billiards	Dave & Busters	Westlake[45]
Rock climbing	Kendall Cliffs Climbing Gym	Peninsula[46]
Rodeo affiliated event	Summit County Fairgrounds	Tallmadge[47][48][49]

Records set

Brian Jacobson, at age 40, lowered the Masters long course world record in the 50 free to 23.31.^[50]

Ida Keeling set the fastest known time by a 99-year-old woman for the 100-meter dash at 59.80 seconds; at the time the relevant USA Track & Field webpage did not include a 100-meter record for US women older than the 90–94 age division.^[51][52]

Kinnon MacKinnon, at age 28, became the first openly transgender man to earn a gold in powerlifting at the Gay Games.^[53]

See also

• LGBTQ portal
• Sports portal

• Federation of Gay Games, the sanctioning body of the Gay Games
• Gay Games
• Principle 6 campaign
• Cleveland-Akron 2014 Home Page