GAY GAMES 9

SO MUCH MORE THAN SPORTS

Lance Bass, Boy George, Ana Matronic and more!

GO ALL OUT FUN, DAY AND NIGHT

At the Gay Games, you can play with a twist without ever competing in a sport. With such diverse entertainment happenings August 8-16, you can party, rock and relax with the best.

The 2014 Gay Games presented by the Cleveland Foundation means fun every night. The ninth quadrennial edition of the world's most inclusive sporting event will bring 10,000 to 20,000 participants and visitors to Cleveland+Akron. During the day, participants will compete in 35-plus sports, from badminton and bowling, to softball and triathlon. At night, Gay Games offers a long list of entertaining options. "Even before Opening Ceremony, Cleveland gets into the Gay Games groove with the spectacular 'Night before 9: Out in Art' at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The event includes performers, after-hours access to the galleries, food and more," says Thomas Nobbe, executive director of Gay Games 9.

OPENING CEREMONY

Lance Bass, Broadway stars and the Pointer Sisters will help kick-off Games Week in the Opening Ceremony at Quicken Loans Arena. The not-tobe-missed event is a full-scale production that starts with thousands marching in the Parade of

Participants. While registered

2014-15 LGBT VISITORS GUIDE

participants are part of the ceremony and sit in their own special section, spectator tickets also are available.

AUGUST 8-16, 2014

Brett Grafton

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Festival Village is the gathering place throughout the week and is open to all at no charge. Located across from the Cleveland Convention Center on Mall C in Downtown Cleveland, the village features entertainment, vendors, food, beer and more.

Each evening, the day's medal winners will be acknowledged from the stage. Entertainment headliners include internationally known DJ Joe Gauthreaux, JD Samson and MEN, Bright Light Bright Light, Jenny Owen Youngs, Detox from "RuPaul's Drag Race" and Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic with her solo act.

TOP: Festival Village BOTTOM: The Pointer Sisters, Lance Bass, Ana Matronic

PARTIES & FESTIVALS

Boy George headlines the White Party on August 11 at the Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in downtown Cleveland. Women's parties are planned for August 13 and 15. On August 14, the Black Party takes center stage late in the evening, while "Seven Deadly Sins" is the theme for the Closing Ceremony After Party on August 16 at House of Blues.

Music lovers will especially appreciate the unique Gay Games Band and the Gay Games Chorus performances. Uniting hundreds of musical artists, the band raises up their instruments on August 12, while the chorus lifts their songbooks on August 13, both at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square.

Sports lovers will have a fun offering August 12 as the Cleveland Indians take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field for Gay Games Night.

In Akron, it's Flair Fest on August 14 where the main downtown drag closes at noon for a street festival with street performers, artists, food. In the evening, in the adjacent Lock 3 outdoor performance venue, the Indigo Girls perform. The Gay Games Pink Flamingo pool show happens August 15 at Cleveland State University. "Think drag show in the water where the only rules are no sequins, no feathers and no nudity," Nobbe says.

CLOSING CEREMONY

Closing Ceremony will tie the bow on Games Week with special entertainment and the ceremonial passing of the flag to Paris, where the 10th Gay Games will be in 2018.

For a complete schedule of events or more information on the 2014 Gay Games, visit 2014GayGames.com.

TOP: Opening Ceremony, medal winners

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Mel Ferrand

JOIN THE FUN

Anyone older than 18 can participate regardless of sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, religion, nationality, athletic ability or physical condition. Amateur athletes of all skill levels as well as singers, musicians and artists can register to participate at GG9CLE.com.

Participants can register to participate in one or more of the following events:

Badminton Basketball Beach volleyball Bodybuilding Bowling Cheer Cycling Dance Sport⚫ Darts

Flag football

Figure skating

Fine arts show Golf Ice hockey Marathon/Half marathon

Martial arts Open water swim Pool-Billiards Powerlifting Racquetball

Road Races (5K and 10K) Rowing Sailing

Soccer (Football) Softball Squash

Swimming

Synchronized swimming

Table tennis Tennis Track & field. Triathlon Water polo Wrestling