Limerick’s application for boxing and wheelchair rugby inclusion in 2018 Gay Games approved

Latest step in bid to host international games

Limerick’s application for the addition of Boxing & Wheelchair Rugby to the approved sports list for the 2018 Gay Games has been officially approved by the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG).

This is the latest step in the bidding process for the 2018 event, for which groups from five cities; Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, and Paris are still in the running.

Bidders were allowed for the first time in 2009 to apply for prior authorization of sports not currently on the FGG list of approved sports. During that cycle, bidders from Cleveland took advantage of this opportunity to request approval for Rodeo, which was granted, and which will be included as an associated event in Gay Games 9 in Cleveland & Akron, USA in 2014.

The current cycle for Gay Games X in 2018, which will see a host chosen in October 2013, has seen an explosion in these requests. Bidders from Limerick requested permission to include Boxing and Wheelchair Rugby in their bid, while Paris requested the authorization for no fewer than five sports: Archery, Fencing, Pétanque, and Polo, as well as Roller Derby, a sport also requested by the London group. All requests have now been approved, with the exception of Polo.

Read more: Limerick City bids to host Gay Olympic games 2018 - competes with six other cities for the honor

Bid Coordinator for Limerick 2018 John James Hickey expressed his delight at the approval of both Boxing & Wheelchair Rugby by the Federation and hopes this will enhance the bid that the Limerick team will be submitting at the end of February. "The Limerick team has been working very hard in the last number of months to advance our bid. The approval of the Sports Committee of Boxing and Wheelchair Quad Rugby as sports which are unique to the Limerick bid is something to be welcomed. It is our opinion that the inclusion of these sports broadens the remit of Gay Games and opens up more opportunities to other participants across the World."

Federation officer for site selection Dennis Sneyers discussed the FGG’s goal of a balanced sports program that respected the desires and capacity of its host organizations: “There are sports that in terms of numbers and history will always be an integral part of the Gay Games.

For instance, we simply cannot imagine an event without swimming or volleyball or running events. But we also want to reach out to the athletic community with sports that offer new experiences for new participants. And we recognize the impact that including a sport in the Gay Games can have for visibility for a sport and for LGBT participation in it. So many of today’s LGBT sport clubs and organizations were born from the Gay Games, and by offering the possibility for new sports to be showcased in the 2018 Games, we hope to continue the goal of the Gay Games to be an incubator for new groups around the world. Our mission is to promote LGBT equality, and by encouraging our hosts to reach out to new participants, we expand the opportunity to share the empowering experience of the Gay Games.”

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Nster.com