Dennis Philipse, chairman of Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 at the Business of Sport Network's celebration delivers a powerful and insightful description of the Gay Games and why they are vital for everyone and why Hong Kong is the place hold them in 2022. The transcript is also included below for your assistance.
Information on the Gay Games, one and a half years ago we started the process. Now not everybody knows what is the Gay Games, the Gay Games started in 1982, it's the first festival organized by the LGBT+ community-- that means Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender, which is open to everybody to participate. So you don’t have to be gay or lesbian to participate. Participating in the Gay Games does not depend on your sexual orientation, age, gender, or disability. It has never been in Asia, 2002 was in Sydney, Australia and the last Gay Games was in Cleveland, Ohio USA in 2014. Next Gay Games will be in Paris in August 2018. So after we reached out to the Federation of Gay Games one and a half years ago, we had to produce this diversity step (Holds up Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 Bid Book) as part of the process. A big Thank You to a couple of our supporters who are here, who were a big part of helping put this together. So a couple of people have been helping us to bring this 300 page book together, it describes all the 36 sports, the 9 day festival which we’re going to plan for 2022.
Why do we need the Gay Games here? That’s a very good question. Being LGBT+ in Asia is for lots of people still a challenge. For lots of people its very difficult to be themselves, and bringing the Gay Games here will be the first type of opportunity to come to a big sporting event to make friendships, build lighthouses and people can be themselves. It's also a great opportunity for non-LGBT+ people, allies, to come together, enjoy this 9 day festival of sports, arts and culture. It will be in Hong Kong, it will be a 9 day festival as I said, opening in Hong Kong stadium on the Kai Tak, if it’s open. And the 36 sports, including Dragon Boat Racing, Tower Running on the ICC on the 110 floors up, and of course trail running because Hong Kong has amazing trails to run on. Of course it’s going to include Rugby, lots of swimming, rowing-- the rowing association, also the yacht club is included, so we have lots of support already from lots of local organizations.
Many people have asked me about the government, let me answer directly so we cover that topic. We have had several meetings during the bid process with the Hong Kong Government, the Home Affairs Bureau, and they have been supportive as they have been with any other sports organization. As part of the bid process in June, we had a three day site inspection by five inspectors, and they inspected all the 40 planned venues. And at every venue the LCSD (Leisure and Cultural Services Department) manager was there, said hello to the team, shook hands and showed everyone around. And of course everyone was really impressed by the quality of the venues, so that is why we have won this bid. (Claps and cheers)
Also the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and the Equal Opportunities Commision is driving and helping us behind the scenes. Last but not least, I want to give a big Thank You to the team of all volunteers-- yes we are all volunteers at this stage, it's about a team of 40 volunteers, we have all been working together for the last one and a half years day and night. Big thank you! I see about four or five others out here, so big thank you for all the hard work!
For the next 5 years, how can you help? Maybe that’s a good question as well. The first year is focused on setting up all fundamentals, promoting #Paris2018 (Gay Games Paris 2018). Because we want to bring as many sport athletes to Paris in August, and then after that we’re going to work on the sponsorship, planning the sports and planning the venues and making sure this is going to be a great festival in five years time. Any Questions?
Next Steps? Next step is our final license agreement between the Federation of Gay Games and the Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 which needs to be signed end of January. We will keep you updated about the events we are going to organize around that and in between we’re also working on getting the final planning in place and working and continuing on our conversation with the Hong Kong government. (from the crowd: “and sponsors”) And Sponsors! (Laughs and Cheers) Any other questions? End video
Connect with Gay Games Hong Kong 2022
Website: http://www.gaygameshk2022.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayGamesHK2022
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gaygameshk2022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaygameshk2022/
Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA) provides branded content catered to your business, in English, and Traditional or Simplified Chinese.
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