FEATURE Sports Gay Games 2010 bid – latest update Yusoof Abdullah | March 11, 2005 The Nelson Mandela Bridge KPMG Head Office – a fitting venue The presenation at KPMG head office on Wednesday evening, before the Johannesburg Bid Book gets sent off to Chicaco, to The Gay Games Federaion Board was one of great excitement. The presentation was the first of many hurdles we will have to cross in our bid for the Games. It was given by co-chairs James Mathias and Samantha Durkin. It consisted of a slide show featuring the pre, current and post events for the core sports set down by the Federation of Gay Games. The Auditoruim was the ideal place for the first practise run and we call on all the African Gods for help. Final Facts : The games will take place over eight days in October 2010. An expected number of 10 000 athletes and 1000 cultutal particants, not to mention spectators could boost South Africa's coffers by R3 billion. 22 major sports, including tennis, volleyball, aquatics, cycling, track and field etc will be included, with Johnnesburg hoping to introduce rugby and other sports. All South Afican sportsmen are encouraged to join in and Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling will be lobbied to participate. Another exciting initiative will be the Ubuntu Village. The site selected for the Village and core activity will be in the Jhb Newtown Precinct. The activities for both the day and night look great, but who knows nearer the time with sponsors coming on board and budget revised we may put on the best games ever seen by the Federation. While Spain and Brazil are playing volleyball at the Mary Fitzgerald Square (turned into a beach with tons of sand), there will be a hive of activity at the wine tasting pavilion, the photo gallery or the bar to meet and show South African hospitality The committee aims to have a choir consisting of at least 1000 voices. Relying on the infrastructure created by the 2010 Soccer World Cup we should have no problems with transport or venues which include Ellis Park, The Royal Johannesburg Golf course, Randurg Sports Complex, Wanders Sport Precinct and the Orlando Soccer Staduim . The Nelson Mandela bridge will, hopefully, be alight with the colours of the gay flag. Should the Johannesburg bid be sucessful the committee calls on all South Africans to turn out in force for the opening ceremony. Critical Marketing Plan : We are fully aware of the long haul air flights to South Africa but we have targeted the Dutch, Americans, Germans and South Americans as they represent the largest tourist groups to Syndey and Amsterdam . The presentation plan was comprehensive, one keypoint raised was the early registration of the actual participants. An estimated 40 thousand tourists could be attracted by these games.We must have a strong contingency at CHICAGO 2006 in July 15 -22 whether we win the bid or not. This is an ideal marketing opportunity for South Africa and will have with the most extensive media coverage. Mobilization and leverage is now critical for the success of our bid for the games. Budget and Sponshorship — the vital core : Conservative projections subject to various exchange rate fluctuations and inflation estimate a projected cost of R55million (US $948200) and wow like a 17 page doucument to grasp and let alone understand . The previous host cities made money but the oragansing companies suffered tremendous losses in each case, what went wrong? So lets get their input and examine their modus operandi and try not to repeat their mistakes. Having said that lets be optimistic and shout out — 'Let the Games Begin!!!' Yusoof Abdullah is well known as one of the longest serving of South Africa's gay activists. He was instrumental in the starting of the first Pride Parade in Johannesburg. Related stories Cologne, Johannesburg and Paris to bid for Gay Games VIII in 2010 [25/01/2005] For more info on Gay Sport in South Africa contact Gay Sport SA See Website http://www.gaygamesjohannesburg.com