About Us
Get to Know the Team
Behind the LA 2022 Gay Games Bid
We are passionate about sports and community and want to inspire others. A team of professionals with more than 30 years of specialized knowledge of sports management, community outreach, marketing, design, event planning and communications, a veteran board of directors and dedicated volunteers, drive the LAVO mission.
Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO)
The mission of LAVO is to promote interest in the sport of volleyball, provide training in the skills and techniques of the sport while fostering teamwork, sportsmanship and an appreciation for health and wellness.
The Federation of Gay Games
The Gay Games are the largest sporting event in the world open to all. The Games are the legacy of Dr. Tom Waddell, a decathlon competitor for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Waddell conceived of the Games as an opportunity for gays and lesbians to show the world that their skills and competitive spirit were equal to the rest of humanity.
The first Gay Games took place in 1982 in San Francisco, bringing together 1,350 athletes from a dozen countries. The Games have been held every four years since in world class cities. Gay Games X will take place in Paris, France in 2018.
The mission of the Federation of Gay Games is to promote equality through the organization of the premiere international LGBT and gay-friendly sports and cultural event known as the Gay Games.
– Federation of Gay Games
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE GAY GAMES
DID YOU KNOW?
Fact #1
The official archives of the Federation of Gay Games are held by the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center at the San Francisco Public Library.
Fact #2
Gay Games IV are prominently featured in the film, Thin Ice. The story is of a lesbian, amateur skater who loses her skating partner shortly before competing in the Games, and begins a desperate search for a suitable replacement. Scenes from the Games include the opening ceremony, the figure skating competition, and the Pride Parade.
More Facts
Fact #3
The first international Gay Games were held in Vancouver, Canada in 1990. Gay Games III drew 7,300 hundred participants, representing 39 countries and 27 sports. The Games were the largest volunteer effort in Vancouver history.
Fact #4
President Barack Obama kicked off Gay Games IX in Cleveland, Ohio with a surprise video message shown at the opening ceremonies. It is the first time a president of the host country has welcomed the athletes.
West Hollywood Sports Festival (WSF)
The WSF is a charitable event of LAVO, created to unite athletes and spectators and promote inclusion and community partnerships. The award-winning WSF brings together sports leagues that play in and around West Hollywood to participate in a three-day, multi-sport tournament on the campus of UCLA.
