Photo: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP / Getty Images
The delivery of the multisport event Gay Games of 2026 will be held in Valencia, Spain , after a final election that was held this Thursday and in which Guadalajara (Mexico) and Munich (Germany) also competed.
At a gala held in Brighton (United Kingdom), the organization of the Games opted for Valencia, considering that the city is at the height of the international event that actively represents the community LGBTQ .
“The work behind Valencia’s bid to host the Gay Games has paid off and that is why we are very proud. However, it must be said that, if Valencia has been chosen, it is also because of the values that represent it ”, highlighted Pilar Bernabé, Councilor for Sports of the City Council.
There were months of meetings, preparations and presentations before the Federation of Gay Games (FGG ) by the Spanish delegation to achieve the nomination.
“We are a tolerant and inclusive city , a place where all people, without exception, can enjoy a wide range of cultural, sports and leisure options ”, explained Pilar Bernabé.
The FGG also highlighted that the port city located on the southeast coast of Spain has a excellent infrastructure and sports facilities that meet the requirement regarding the quality of the Gay Games.
The EFE agency reported that the Valencian delegation has had Valencia officials Bid City, Visit Valencia, the Municipal Sports Foundation (FDM), Lambda, ADI, the Association of companies and professionals for lesbians, gays, transsexuals and bisexuals of the Valencian Community (AVEGAL) and the LGTBI + Samarucs and Dracs sports clubs.
Through his official Twitter account, the Mayor of Valencia Joan Ribó celebrated that his city has been chosen for the great event.
“This is great news for the city. It is news that symbolizes and unifies (…) working so that in Valencia anyone can feel comfortable or protected, whatever they think ”
Joan Ribó, Mayor of Valencia
On average will be about 21 a thousand athletes who will participate in the upcoming games in the 36 accepted sports modalities.
What are the Gay Games?
Created and contested for the first time in San Francisco, United States, in the year of 1982, the Gay Games are defined as a multi-sport event that aims to promote respect and cultural equality , without discrimination of sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin a, political orientation, athletic abilities, physical disability, age or health status.
They are also the main multisport flag of the LGBTQI community. The idea for its creation came from Tom Waddell, a doctor, Olympian, and activist for gay rights in the United States and the world. His life followed an openly homosexual story and he also had a daughter with the defender of these rights, Sara Lewinstein. They named her Jessica Waddell Lewinstein .
“The purpose of the Federation of Gay Games is to promote and increase the self-respect of lesbians and gay men in the world and generate respect and understanding of the non-gay world, mainly through the organization of an international athletic and cultural event open to participation and held every four years, commonly known as Gay Games ” FGG
When is the next edition?
Although the Federation has already announced the event of 2026, the next installment of the Gay Games (every four years) will take place next 2022 in Hong Kong , China.
Although when in 2017 the Asian town was announced to host the event, it was highlighted that the city was the right one for being cosmopolitan and a strategic point in the region , in the absence of a year for the Games a group of pro-China legislators have expressed their dissatisfaction with being made there.
Junius Ho, a pro-Beijing lawmaker, called the Gay Games “shameful ”And violators of national security . For her part, Deputy Priscilla Leung accused the organizers of seeking “to wash minds” by spreading political ideas and promote a culture that does not coincide with the Asian.
These comments were rejected by the Hong Kong government, which considers that they “unnecessarily divide society”. Executive Director Carrie Lam gave her word that the delivery of the games will take place and they will continue to rent the venues for their development.
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