# 2014 Gay Games

The 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9 or Gay Games IX, were an international multi-sport event and cultural gathering organized by, and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) athletes, artists and musicians. It was held from August 9 to August 16, 2014 in Cleveland, with some events being held in the nearby city of Akron, Ohio. An estimated 8,000 athletes from more than 50 nations participated in 37 sports and cultural events.

## Bidding Process

* Bids
* Boston, Massachusetts, United States
* Washington, D.C., United States
* Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, United States
* Cancelled
* Miami, Florida, United States
According to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG), fourteen cities expressed interest in hosting the event. During its annual meeting in Cape Town on October 28, 2008, the FGG announced that four American cities made the deadline and were thus in the running to host the games: Boston, Cleveland, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Of these cities, Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. submitted bid books by the deadline. The FGG selected Cleveland as the host city on September 29, 2009 during its annual meeting in Cologne, Germany.

## Sponsors

On April 13, 2013, the Cleveland Foundation announced a US$250,000 grant as the presenting sponsor of the event, which was to be known as "The 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation," marking the first time the Gay Games had had a presenting sponsor. In addition to local support from sponsors such as the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Indians, the Games saw major corporate sponsorship from large companies like Coca-Cola, Marriott, and United.
The United Church of Christ became the first religious denomination to be a major sponsor of the Gay Games as a fourth-tier silver sponsor of the Gay Games in 2014.
Also announced as a major sponsor was Ernst & Young, with cash and in-kind services.

## Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Quicken Loans Arena. Featured stars at the ceremony included singer, dancer and radio host Lance Bass, Broadway actress Andrea McArdle, Alex Newell from Glee, former Olympian Greg Louganis, and The Pointer Sisters. President of the United States Barack Obama made a surprise video appearance.

## Events and Venues

The Games featured 37 disciplines of sport and cultural events throughout Cleveland-Akron region.

### Cleveland

| Event | Venue |
| Athletics: road races (5k) | Cleveland Metroparks Zoo |
| Aquatics: Open Water Swim | Edgewater Park |
| Badminton | Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Basketball | Woodling Gymnasium |
| Basketball | CSU Recreation Center (Cleveland State University) |
| Beach volleyball | Wendy Park (Whiskey Island) |
| Bodybuilding | Public Music Hall |
| Cheer | Public Music Hall |
| Dancesport | Renaissance Cleveland Hotel |
| Darts | Renaissance Cleveland Hotel |
| Diving | Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University) |
| Racquetball | Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Rowing | Rivergate Park |
| Sailing | Edgewater Yacht Club |
| Squash | Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Swimming | Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University) |
| Synchronized swimming | Robert F. Busbey Natatorium (Cleveland State University) |
| Table tennis | Veale Center (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Tennis | Malaga Complex (Cleveland State University) |
| Triathlon | East 9th Street Pier at Voinovich Park (North Coast Harbor) |
| Water polo | Veale Natorium (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Wrestling | Horsburgh Gymnasium (Case Western Reserve University) |
| Volleyball | Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland |

#### Ceremonies and Other Events

| Event | Venue |
| Chorus | State Theatre |
| Closing Ceremony | Cleveland Mall |
| Opening Ceremony | Quicken Loans Arena |
| Team Band Competition | State Theatre |

### Akron

| Event | Venue |
| Athletics: road races (10k) | Mustill Store Trailhead |
| Football (soccer) | Copley Road Soccer Complex |
| Golf | Firestone Country Club |
| Marathon and Half marathon start/finish | Akron Civic Theatre |
| Martial arts | John S. Knight Center |
| Softball | Cascade Valley Metro Park |
| Softball | Colonial Salt Field |
| Softball | Firestone Stadium |
| Track and field | Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex (University of Akron) |

### Other Sites

| Event | Venue | Location |
| Bowling | The Game of Wickliffe | Wickliffe |
| Cycling (Criterium) | Downtown Lakewood | Lakewood |
| Cycling (Road Race/Circuit Race) | Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation | Brecksville |
| Cycling (Mountain biking) | Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation | Strongsville |
| Figure skating | Serpentiti Arena | Lakewood |
| Flag football | Barton-Bradley Recreation Field | North Olmsted |
| Ice hockey | OBM Arena | Strongsville |
| Pool billiards | Dave & Busters | Westlake |
| Rock climbing | Kendall Cliffs Climbing Gym | Peninsula |
| Rodeo affiliated event | Summit County Fairgrounds | Tallmadge |

## Records set

Brian Jacobson, at age 40, lowered the Masters long course world record in the 50 free to 23.31.
Ida Keeling set the fastest known time by a 99-year-old woman for the 100-meter dash at 59.80 seconds; at the time the relevant USA Track & Field webpage did not include a 100-meter record for US women older than the 90–94 age division.
Kinnon MacKinnon, at age 28, became the first openly transgender man to earn a gold in powerlifting at the Gay Games.