West Hollywood, California, July 6, 2016 — The Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO) has completed a second major step in the bid to bring the 2022 Gay Games to Los Angeles. The Federation of Gay Games announced earlier this month that the following 11 cities are continuing in the bidding on Gay Games XI: Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, San Francisco, CA, Washington, D.C. (USA), Cape Town (ZAF), Guadalajara (MEX), Hong Kong (CHN) and Tel Aviv (ISR).
LAVO, led by Eric Gonzales, Vice President, 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 dozens of dedicated volunteers, have already begun the rigorous work of securing the bid. The LA 2022 Gay Games bid is also backed by enthusiastic sports, political and LGBT support networks.
“We are extremely fortunate to have great relationships with so many wonderful LGBT sport leagues, and with government officials and agencies, in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and many other cities,” said Gonzales. “With this enormous amount of support we are committed to presenting a strong and competitive bid that our city will be proud of!”
LAVO launched the new Gay Games LA 2022 website (www.ggla2022.com) and the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ggLA2022) this week. Bold images and vibrant colors are incorporated throughout both, highlighting the vision of the Los Angeles bid. The organization also launched a GoFundMe page to help raise funds. Initial costs for the bidding process include submission fees and other related costs including representing Los Angeles at the Federation of Gay Games General Assembly meeting in Australia in late fall. Additional fundraising efforts will be planned over the next few months and more information will be available soon.
LAVO wants to rally all communities behind this campaign, promoting inclusion and the power of sports to unite. Bringing the Gay Games to Los Angeles for the first time will be history making.
For more information and to lend your support, follow these links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggLA2022/
GoFundMe/GGLA2022 : https://www.gofundme.com/ggla2022
About LAVO
The Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO) was initially conceived in early 2010. Volleyball enthusiasts and longtime friends co-founded the idea of creating a group that could provide the residents of Los Angeles with structured and organized volleyball that would foster competition and build friendships and provide a safe space for everyone. Today, thanks to a membership base of more then 2,500, a strong leadership team, dedicated volunteers and having produced so many tournaments, leagues, open play games throughout the year including a multi-sport festival, LAVO has become a trusted community event organizer and a safe space for LGBT athletes.
For more information, visit www.playlavo.org
About the Federation of Gay Games
Built upon the principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best™, since 1982 the Gay Games have empowered thousands of LGBT athletes and artists through sport, culture, and fellowship. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), and Cleveland+Akron (2014). Gay Games 10 will be held in Paris 2018. Visit www.Paris2018.com for more information.