Denver Among Three Finalists to Host Gay Games in 2030

The Mile High City is one step closer to becoming the next epicenter for LGBTQ athletes.

Denver was selected as one of three finalists to host the 2030 Gay Games sports competition, organizers announced on December 4. The other two cities still in the running are Perth, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

The event, first held in 1982, occurs in a different country every four years, bringing together thousands of athletes to compete in over thirty sports across ten days. The competition is open to athletes of all genders, sexualities and skill levels, with an emphasis on gathering members of the LGBTQ community.

"This milestone is not just about choosing a city; it's about envisioning a future where LGBTQ+ sports and culture, and the values we have in common, shine brighter than ever," says Austin Manning, officer of site selection for the games. “We are thrilled to congratulate Auckland, Denver and Perth on advancing as finalists on this journey toward selecting the host city for Gay Games XIII in 2030.”

Twenty-five cities across five continents threw their hats in the ring last January to become the next Gay Games host city. The list was narrowed to ten cities in May, with Denver being the only United States city to make the cut.

Denver activists, in partnership with Visit Denver, submitted a 100-page proposal and presented to organizers in Washington, D.C., in October about how they would handle hosting the games. The three finalist cities will now prepare more detailed proposals to be presented in June. The final host city will be announced in November of next year.

"We look forward to working in lockstep with the committee to ensure Denver is selected and ready to welcome visitors from around the world out west," says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. "The Mile High City's rich culture, world-class dining and attractions, access to nature and commitment to inclusivity illustrate how it would be the perfect destination to attract athletes and spectators from around the world to enjoy the 2030 Games."

If Denver is selected to host the Gay Games, it will be the first time the competition has been held in the United States since Cleveland in 2014. The next games, in 2026, are set for Valencia, Spain. The event was held in Hong Kong and Guadalajara in 2023.

Denver unsuccessfully tried to host the games in 2022, making it to the final eight [those games were pushed to 2023 because of the pandemic]. This time around, the proposal is backed by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Governor Jared Polis, the first openly gay man elected as a U.S. governor.

Johnston and Polis appeared in a video advertising Denver's bid to host the Gay Games, along with LGBTQ state leaders including Representative Brianna Titone (the state's first openly transgender legislator), Denver Councilman Darrell Watson (the first openly gay man elected to Denver City Council) and State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis (co-chair of the Colorado Legislature's LGBTQ caucus).

"By hosting the Gay Games in Denver, we're building a legacy of inclusion," Titone said in the video.

"Let's try to make this the biggest, proudest Gay Games the world has ever seen," Johnston added.

Denver has over two dozen LGBTQ sports and cultural organizations, with a total of 13,000-plus members, according to the video. The competition is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants and spectators from around the world, organizers say.

The 2018 Gay Games in Paris resulted in an economic impact of nearly $118 million. Just under 90 percent of participants in the 2018 games were from outside the host city, and 77 percent were from outside of the country.