They created a back-up plan that included delaying the Games until 2023 (done) and possibly moving the Games all-together. Various athletes - and even voting members of the Federation of Gay Games - have reached out to me over the last few years to anonymously levy their concerns. There have been calls almost since Hong Kong was named as the host to move the Games, as civil unrest developed in Hong Kong. How can you tell there are problems? Less than two years out, registration for the event is still not open. Now hosting the event in two different cities is risky for an event already facing increasing competition.įor much of the last few years, the Gay Games has watched as the realities of selecting Hong Kong as a host city have grown: the increasing encroachment of Chinese authoritarian rule in Hong Kong, a lack of interest amongst athletes in Hong Kong as a host city, human-rights issues in China, the COVID-19 pandemic, and more. While the Gay Games have had lofty goals of bringing the world to China to celebrate the LGBTQ community, the reality is that this is not going to happen. The Federation of Gay Games has announced it will split its quadrennial event next year, hosting two different events in two different cities: Hong Kong and Guadalajara, Mexico.
