22 GAY PEOPLE's ChronICLE SEPTEMBER 26, 1997
TRAVEL AND LEISURE
First Gay Games in Europe to grace Amsterdam next year
by David Ebbert
The city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and the first city outside North America to host the Gay Games, is welcoming all participants and observers to the Fifth Gay Games, which will take place from August 1 to 8, 1998.
During the first week of August next summer, more than 15,000 athletes and artists from five continents will gather in Amsterdam to celebrate the Games under the motto "Friendship through Culture and Sports."
The Games were the brainchild of Dr. Tom Waddell, a gay decathlete who participated in the 1968 Olympic Games, Waddell, who died in 1987, sought to create an environment where gay and lesbian athletes were understood and included.
Twelve thousand people from forty different countries participated in the first Gay Games, held in San Francisco in 1982. The most recent Gay Games was held in New York City in 1994, during the Stonewall 25 celebrations.
The total budget for Gay Games Amsterdam will be approximately $6 million, and fundraising is running smoothly.
The Games will begin with opening ceremonies to be held at the Amsterdam Arena, a stadium that can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators. A parade, fireworks and entertainers will kick off the festivities, which will conclude on August 8 with yet another fireworks display and a dance party. The Games will include thirty competition sports and six demonstration sports. The events will include cycling, ice hockey, rowing, marathon, martial arts, billiards, ballroom dancing, swimming, chess, bridge, softball, volleyball and windsurfing, among others.
As of mid-September, male participants outnumbered female participants 70 to 30 percent, resulting in organizers halting any further registrations by men. Badminton, ice hockey and tennis are leading the pack as the most popular sports.
A program of cultural events including a storytelling festival, performances by marching bands and a variety of exhibitions, will be a prominent part of the week of festivities. These will be led by Maxim, a large Dutch drag queen that will serve as the event's mascot. Among the exhibitions will be "the Victorian Dream" at the Van Gogh Museum, which will illustrate how a gay, lesbian and bisexual sub-
culture flourished in the prudish Victorian period.
No city in Europe is more suitable for an event such as Gay Games than Amsterdam. More than 700 years old, the city is an ideal destination for the gay tourist, thanks to its tolerant social climate and the diversity of cafes and restaurants for lesbian and gay travelers.
For centuries Amsterdam was a haven where the oppressed and persecuted from other parts of the world sought refuge. Gay men and lesbians have had legal status since the 1970s. Together with the feminist movement, successes were achieved in the fight for equal rights. Nowadays, no one in the Netherlands makes an issue of homosexuality, and gay and lesbian people are part of a rich cultural melting pot, with residents from every conti-
nent.
There are large groups of immigrants from the former Dutch colony of Surinam in South America, as well as Morocco and Turkey. During the 1960s, people from these countries were brought to the Netherlands as a cheap labor force.
The city has about 700,000 residents, which is quite small for such a cosmopolitan
city. Amsterdam is part of a large continuous network of urban communities in the west of the Netherlands, where about five million people live. The city is compact. Everything in the historic center is easily accessible on foot. The suburbs are connected with the center by an efficient network of trams, buses and subways. Almost all sports and cultural venues can be reached in less than half an hour. Above all, the city is ideal for discovery by bike.
Amsterdam's bars are organizing a number of parties on each night during the week of Gay Games. There will also be street parties held each evening.
Information on the games, including registration for athletes, is available from Gay Games Amsterdam 1998, Post Office Box 2837, 1000 CV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or call 011-31-20-4271998 or 888429-4263.
or
Gay Games Amsterdam can also be reached on-line at info@gaygames.nl www.gaygames.nl. You can also get information about Gay Games and other destinations of interest by contacting any of the travel agencies listed in the Resource Directory in the back of this paper, or advertised in these pages.
Nearby resorts are perfect for weekend getaways
by Marsha Flack
Who says you have to fly somewhere out of state to satisfy your travel fantasy? All you have to do is fill the gas tank up, and start roving! These great weekend destinations can fill that desire and you don't have to worry about missing your flight home. Springhill Farm
Glenford, Ohio
Gay, women only, lesbian owned 614-659-2364
Located in the heart of rural Ohio, Springhill Farm offers a setting for a peaceful and secluded getaway. Accommodations includes deluxe cabins for two with a hot tub, private bath, fireplace, and a fully-equipped kitchenette.
The three-story uniquely renovated barn provides a smoke-free environment and accommodates up to 8 people, with a fully equipped kitchen, picnic facilities, and an above ground swimming pool. Located 30 minutes east of Columbus, with many local area activities and festivals.
Prospect Hill Bed & Breakfast Cincinnati
Gay, men and women, gay owned 513-421-4408
Travelers are invited to join the owners of this 1867 Italianate townhouse for a hospitable stay at this B & B nestled into a wooded
hillside with spectacular views of downtown Cincinnati. Rooms greet you with a welcome dish of fresh fruit and cookies, which you can eat by a wood burning fireplace. Or, soothe in a hot tub while enjoying the symphony of colors in the garden, or the brightly-lit city skyline.
Clifford House Cleveland
Gay, men and women 216-589-9432
Cleveland boasts this beautiful historic Queen Anne guest house as a main attraction in the Ohio City district. Its sophisticated upscale atmosphere is much appreciated by the gay community as well as business travelers.
Its owner will accommodate the guest's every need, from the "home-like atmosphere" to detailed information about the North Coast's attractions. From an elegant suite with a fireplace, to several second-floor rooms, your stay at this destination will be an enjoyable one.
The Blackfork Inn Loudonville, Ohio Gay-friendly, men and women 419-994-3252
This historic 1849 bed and breakfast is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It's a Victorian townhouse in a smalltown setting, offering an elegant getaway, a
Harmony In Food, Drink, Art & Entertainment
arand
Grille
LEVELAND.
OHIO
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Party Room Available For Any Occasion!
EVERY SATURDAY! BOB NAVIS Broadway Classics & Sing-A-Longs 9:00-Midnight
NEW MENU!
3359 Fulton Avenue
Friday, Sept. 26 PENNY RACHELLE Pop singer from the Roseto Club in Akron! 9:00pm
216-398-5052
Open for Lunch and Dinner! Call for Times
5 minutes from Downtown. Exit off 1-71. North on Fulton. mile on right.
THE RAMS HEAD
Bed & Breakfast for Men
SAUNA
HOT TUB
FULL GYM
HEATED POOL
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Reservations: 302-226-9171
place for pampered relaxation as well as a convenient location for exploring the beauties of Mohican country.
The inn has two Victorian parlors for guests' use, and eight guest rooms, each with private baths. All are furnished in antiques and are accurate in detail. Complimentary breakfast includes Amish specialties, homegrown raspberries and freshsqueezed juices. Ask about the schedule of Victorian holiday dinners.
Roseland Guest House & Farm
Proctor, West Virginia Gay, men only, gay owned
304-455-3838
Near the Ohio River awaits 222 secluded acres of clothing-optional peace and quiet for the male traveler who desires beautiful scenic mountainous views, as well as hiking, camping, dancing, and a hot tub. A cozy fireplace is a great idea for a cool evening amidst beautiful country fall colors at this great gay destination. Summit Lodge Resort and Guest House Logan, Ohio
Men and women, gay-owned 614-385-3521
Thirty years in operation, this clothingoptional resort and nudist camp awaits the gay and lesbian traveler for a fun-filled day of swimming, camping, and hiking. You can stay at the lodge or in a private “Kamp Kabin" which accommodates sleeping only. Your amenities are a sauna, hot tub, breakfast, restaurant and country trails.
Rainbow Mountain Resort East Stroudsburg, Pa. Gay, men and women 717-223-8484
This resort has a style and setting like no other resort of its kind. You will find it nestled high atop a Pocono mountainside on 85 private wooded acres with spectacular views. They are open year round. You chose from a resort suite to a cabin accommodation, and your package includes fabulous four -ourse meals and full American breakfasts. Boating, pool swimming, skiing, hiking, and dancing.
Sell your stuff in the Gay People's Chronicle Classifieds and make a pile of cash!
Other nearby destinations Big Prairie, Ohio
Kimbilio Farm. Midway between Columbus and Akron. Women only, farm and cabin. Swimming, wheelchair access; 330378-2481.
Columbus
Columbus Bed and Breakfast. Gay friendly, German village district; 614-444-8888. Five Forty-Two Bed and Breakfast. Gayfriendly; 614-621-1741.
The Gardener's House. Gay men and lesbians, spa, smoke free; 614-444-5445.
Logan, Ohio
Springwood Hocking Hills Cabins. 15 miles northwest of Logan. Lesbians and gay men, cabins, hot tub, smoke free, pets and kids okay; 614-385-2042.
Portsmouth, Ohio
1835 House Bed and Breakfast. Gay-friendly, on the Ohio River. Smoke free, swimming, kids and pets okay; 614-353-1856. Emlonton, Pa.
Allegheny House. Gay friendly, full breakfasts; 800-867-9636.
Erie, Pa.
Castle Great House. Gay friendly; 814454-6465.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Brewers Hotel. Gay friendly; 412-681-7991 Camp Davis. Gays and lesbians, cabin and campsites; 412-637-2402.
The Inn on the Mexican War Streets. Mostly women; 412-231-6544. The Priory. Gay friendly; 412-231-3338.
To book a weekend at any of these establishments, call your favorite gay or lesbianowned travel agency.
Marsha Flack owns Uncommon Destinations, a Cleveland travel agency.