Hong Kong wins bid to host 2022 Gay Games

Hong Kong will host the 2022 Gay Games, making it the first city in Asia to host the sporting event.

The Federation of Gay Games revealed the winning bid at a press conference in Paris on Monday.

After Hong Kong was chosen to host the games, a post on the Hong Kong Gay Games Facebook page said: “We fought tirelessly and are elated to bring the games to Asia for the first time! Thank you all for your love and support. Bring the Gay Games to Hong Kong!”

The other cities competing for the honour to host the games were Washington DC and Guadalajara in Mexico.

https://www.facebook.com/GayGamesHK2022/posts/2018356111719046

This will be the 11th time the games will be held since it was founded in San Francisco in 1982. It is held every four years, and welcomes anyone to participate regardless of sexuality, ability, and gender.

The 2018 games will be held in Paris from August 4 to August 12.

Bid organisers expect the games will bring up to HK$1bn to the economy, and that around 15,000 participants and 25,000 spectators will take part.

Hong Kong was nominated to host the games in April last year, making it the first Asian city to be shortlisted to host the event.

Dennis Philipse — founder of LGBT community organisation Out in HK, which supported the Hong Kong bid for the games — told Hong Kong Free Press last year: “LGBT issues in Asia are still a bit of a challenge legally, and is not on the same level compared to other places in the world. The Gay Games are a great opportunity for Hong Kong – it might change the city and change the perception Hongkongers have towards the LGBT community.”

Though Hong Kong becomes the first city in Asia to host the Gay Games, its record on LGBT rights is still somewhat questionable; gay marriage is still not legal, and there are no anti-discrimination laws over sexual orientation.

But there is hope. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that a British expat would be given a dependent visa through her same-sex partner who works in Hong Kong.

We’re all excited and can’t wait until the event arrives in Hong Kong. Another person who is also looking forward to the 2022 games is fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who can be seen here sporting one of the bid team’s fans.

https://www.facebook.com/GayGamesHK2022/photos/a.1793916667496326.1073741837.1761197990768194/2018377965050194/?type=3&theater