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Chicago Public Library Powers Business

Spring is approaching, and the Chicago Public Library is budding a new sprout! It’s called CPL Powers Business, and it highlights the free professional business resources the library has waiting for you. There are tons of them, and we are going to be shedding the light on some. In doing so, we are also going to be showcasing some shining entrepreneurs who have availed themselves of these advantages as they give us, and you, little testimonials.

http://allterrainjohnny.com/tagged/CPL_Powers_Business

Countdown to Cologne 2010: Gay Games International Rainbow Memorial Run Begins Journey From San Francisco to Germany

Special symbol of the gay rights movement will travel to past Gay Games Host Cities, arriving in Cologne in time for 2010 Opening Ceremony

San Francisco, CA - Less than 10 days after the Olympic flame was lit at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the LGBT sporting world will begin its own countdown to the 2010 Gay Games that take place later this year in Cologne, Germany. The International Rainbow Memorial Run (IRMR) gets underway on Sunday, 21 February, 2010 at 10:00 am in the San Francisco National AIDS Memorial Grove.

Every four years, the Rainbow Run helps the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) celebrate the lives of those who have graced the Gay Games movement and served or participated in the Games. “In many ways, this is our own ‘torch’ run,” said Brent Nicholson Earle, founder and organizer of the IRMR, “and we begin by renewing our connection with San Francisco, ‘our Athens,’ the city of our birth.”

San Francisco Celebration
On Sunday, 21 February 2010, the FGG will launch the official countdown to the Cologne Gay Games with a press conference and quilt ceremony at San Francisco’s National AIDS Memorial Grove. Led by event creator, New York activist Brent Nicholson Earle, the event celebrates friends of the Gay Games lost to AIDS and other diseases, including US Olympian and Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell.

After performances by Cheer San Francisco and remarks by California State Senator Mark Leno and San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty the special Memorial Rainbow Flag will be carried on a symbolic run to San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, the founding stadium of both the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers, and the home of the Gay Games I (1982) and Gay Games II (1986) Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The AIDS Memorial Grove is located at Middle Drive E at Bowling Green Drive in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Kezar Stadium is at 334-670 Kezar Drive, at the SE corner of Golden Gate Park. The event gets underway at 10 am.

Olympic Charter
“As the world celebrates the Vancouver Winter Olympics, most don’t know that the Olympic Charter does not expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or health status,” said Kurt Dahl and Emy Ritt, FGG co-presidents. “The International Rainbow Memorial Run not only launches the quadrennial Gay Games, but also helps to remind us of the relevance of our movement in a world that still makes it difficult to compete and be openly gay or lesbian.”



World Tour
The Rainbow flag will travel to each of the former Host Cities of the Gay Games with symbolic or 5K runs held in each city. The flag will travel to Vancouver, Canada (Gay Games III, 1990), New York, USA (Gay Games IV, 1994), Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Gay Games V, 1998), Sydney, Australia (Gay Games VI, 2020), and Chicago, USA (Gay Games VII, 2006) before traveling to Cologne, Germany, host of Gay Games VIII, 31 July to August 7, 2010. Similar events are being held throughout Germany in cooperation with local AIDS service organizations.



Cologne 2010 Opening Ceremony
The International Rainbow Memorial Run will make its way to Cologne after a tour through Germany in late July. On the morning of Saturday, 31 July, a special ceremony will be followed by the official International Memorial (5K) Rainbow Run. The flag and flag bearers will enter RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne’s famous soccer stadium, that evening during Gay Games VIII Opening Ceremony leading the parade of athletes.



To learn more about the history of the Gay Games movement, or to learn about an upcoming stop by the International Rainbow Memorial Flag, visit www.gaygames.com. For information about the 2010 Gay Games, visit www.games-cologne.com (English) or www.games-cologne.de (German).



About the Gay Games:
The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 - 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 - 7,300 participants), New York (1994 - 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 - 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 - 11,000 participants), and Chicago (2006 - 11,700 participants). Gay Games VIII will be held in Cologne, Germany on 31 July-7 August 2010 and information is available at www.games-cologne.com.



“Gay Games,” “Federation of Gay Games,” the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trade marks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.

Go Barney!

Vreebit.com founder Michael Fleischmann will lead an online preview for 1,000 people on Aug 13

Visit Vreebit.com
Click on the image below for August 13 preview details.

Make the Leap! Experience the Evolution of the Internet

Make the Leap!
Experience the Evolution of the Internet

What is Vreebit?

Vreebit.com is a revolutionary Internet tool that allows you to connect, communicate, and organize the people and tasks in your life. Built from the ground up to address the needs of both groups and individuals, Vreebit will quickly become the center of your online world. And, of course, it is free.

Imagine a single platform which brings together all the elements of your online experience - from calendars to contacts, from e-mail to expert advice, and from posting jobs to political debates, Vreebit offers the ultimate in efficient, effective, and secure Web technology. Prepare to be set VREE on July 29!

How Can I Get Involved?

Pre-launch signup is underway now. Reserve your screen name and free website URL. You can help build the Vreebit community by telling your friends and colleagues about Vreebit. After you sign up, you can send out Personal Invitations for this unique Pre-Registration opportunity. In addition, if you refer 10 new members and they successfully Pre-Register with Vreebit, you'll be entitled to a Premium Membership upon our national launch!

OLYMPIC DIVING GOLD MEDALIST MATTHEW MITCHAM DECLARES SUPPORT FOR GAY GAMES

Matthew Mitcham endorses Gay Games motto
"Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best™".

The Federation of Gay Games has released a video on its web site (http://www.gaygames.com) featuring Matthew Mitcham in a 60 second message, encouraging everyone to participate in the Gay Games.

The video features gold-medal winner Mitcham diving followed by a personal, poolside message: “You don’t have to be an Olympian to participate in the Gay Games. The motto of the Federation of Gay Games is participation, inclusion, and personal best. Everyone can play in sport and culture. Why not be part of it?” A second video has been launched on the 2010 Cologne Gay Games web site (http://www.games-cologne.com) with Matthew Mitcham encouraging participation in the 2010 Gay Games.

Matthew Mitcham won the gold medal in men’s platform diving at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, scoring the highest marks ever in platform diving. Matthew Mitcham is 21 years old, resides in Sydney, Australia, and continues competing in diving events while preparing for the 2012 Olympics. Mitcham was one of two “Out” (openly gay) male athletes at the Beijing Olympics.

Federation of Gay Games Marketing Officer, Doug Litwin, has a very positive response to these videos. “Matthew clearly recognizes the life-changing impact that comes from participating in a large international event. Just as he made history and opened millions of eyes on the diving platform in Beijing, he realizes that the many thousands who have participated in the Gay Games have also had their eyes opened as part of their own life-changing experience. As we've been saying for years... ‘Gay Games Change The World.’”

Federation of Gay Games VP of External Affairs, Kate Rowe (Sydney), produced the video with Matthew Mitcham and can be contacted for Australian support. Sponsorship inquiries for Matthew Mitcham can also be directed through Ms. Rowe (krowe@gaygames.org). Kate commented about Mitcham. “Despite his heavy training commitments for the 2012 Olympics, Matthew wanted to give something to the global Gay and Lesbian sporting community by offering to endorse the Federation of Gay Games and the 2010 Cologne Gay Games with his appearance in this video.” Rowe added “We really appreciate Matthew’s generosity in participating freely, and found it a joy to work with him. Matthew’s enthusiasm for the Gay Games is clearly evident. In fact, he hopes to participate himself sometime in the future.”

The Federation of Gay Games would like to acknowledge Mat Webster and Dion Wilton from Metro Screen, Sydney, Australia, who also gave freely of their time to film and edit the video.

*******
The eighth edition of the quadrennial Gay Games will be held in Cologne, Germany from 31 July-7 August 2010. Chicago’s seventh Gay Games in July 2006 drew 11,700 participants.

For information about how to sponsor or participate in Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, visit www.games-cologne.com or phone +49 221 925 2607.

For information about or to sponsor the Federation of Gay Games, go to www.gaygames.org.

Kate Rowe, (FGG VP of External Affairs) can be contacted at krowe@gaygames.org.

-30-

About The Federation of Gay Games:
The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 - 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 - 7,300 participants), New York (1994 - 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 - 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 - 11,000 participants), and Chicago (2006 - 11,700 participants). Gay Games VIII will be held in Cologne, Germany on 31 July-7 August 2010.

“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany, and Australia.

Links:

Federation of Gay Games: http://www.gaygames.com
Games Cologne: http://www.games-cologne.com (English)
Games Cologne: http://www.games-cologne.de (German)
Matthew Mitcham Endorses Gay Games: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6tUxzjg3HI
Matthew Mitcham Says “Come to Cologne for Gay Games 2010”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjdiMwxjijY

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo with a Kilorita

Forget the old boring Margarita -Mix up a Kilorita to spice up your Cinco de Mayo celebrations!


Kilorita

Add 2.5 ounces of Kilo Kai Rum
1 ounce of Cointreau or Grand Marnier (No Triple Sec) and the juice of one lime into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Pour into a salted-rimmed glass.
Top off with ginger ale (or 7 Up) and garnish with a lime slice.

Kilo Kai Sponsors Tamarama at Chicago's Lucky Lady

Kilo Kai Rum is the new sponsor of a live performance by Tamarama on Friday, April 10, 2009. The band takes the stage at The Lucky Lady at 440 North State Street at 9:00 pm for a live set. Following the show guests are invited to continue the party at Manor Chicago located at 642 North Clark Street. Tamarama’s Jay Lyons, who many know as Whitney Port’s on-and-off (now on!) Aussie boyfriend on MTV’s “The City,” will host the After Party which begins with a hosted Kilo Kai Rum cocktail reception from 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

The evening’s proceeds benefit Bright Pink, an organization that supports and educates women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
ay
When:
Fri 4/10 (9PM)
Where: The Lucky Lady
Address: 440 North State Street Chicago, IL
Cost: $10 cover

Kilo Kai Rum to be Backstage at the Ultra Music Festival / March 27, 28

Performers and VIPs to experience Florida’s fastest growing new spiced rum

Miami, Florida - VIPs and performers at this weekend’s Ultra Music Festival in Miami’s Bicentennial Park will have a chance to experience Kilo Kai, the wildly popular new spiced rum. Kilo Kai will be the exclusive rum in the Ultrafest VIP area and Kilo Kai bottles will be placed in the private facilities reserved for top performing talent.

Kilo Kai, launched in October of 2007, was introduced to Florida in January of this year. Floridians have taken to the product in droves with sales so high that they caused a nationwide product shortage for 3 weeks in February. Kilo Kai is now available at more than 1,100 locations throughout the state.

“We created Kilo Kai Rum as a better-tasting alternative to many of the market-leading brands,” said Kilo Kai President Brad Trayser. “Much of our success has come from word-of-mouth as people learn about us from their favorite bartender, server or DJ. We’re thrilled to have been invited to be part of the Ultra Music Festival and happy to offer VIPs and performers backstage a chance to try this great rum.”

The Ultra Music Festival is one of the largest and most important music festivals in the United States. Now in its 11th edition, the two-day festival takes place Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 at Downtown Miami’s oceanfront Bicentennial Park. Sixteen stages will feature over 100 DJs, bands and producers with an estimated 70,000 international attendees. Top acts include Tiësto, the Black Eyed Peas, The Prodigy, Paul Van Dyk, Carl Cox and a special guest performance by Bloc Party. Tickets range from $40 to $350 for a two-day all VIP pass. For more information and ticket information, visit www.ultramusicfestival.com.

About Kilo Kai
Created by three generations of master rum distillers in Curacao, Kilo Kai is a spiced rum blended with the unique flavors and scents of the Caribbean. The complexity arises in the flavors of anise, vanilla, banana, cherry, nutmeg and orange peels. Crafted with 1-year-old and 3-year-old rums, Kilo Kai is the perfect rum for aficionados and novices alike because its complexity and unique blend of flavors allows it to be mixed in a favorite cocktail or enjoyed straight. The innovative package design features real skateboard tape on the bottle and is complete with Kilo Kai’s iconic logo. To learn more about Kilo Kai’s “Take No Prisoners” attitude, visit www.KiloKai.com. Please enjoy Kilo Kai responsibly.

Kilo Kai Recipes from HotMixology

Kilo Kai Rum - He's Cool, She's Hot - Bartender Trade Video

Bioelements Names All Terrain as Public Relations and Social Media Agency of Record

Award-winning skincare line Bioelements names Chicago-based public relations and social media experts as PR agency of record


Feb 13, 2009 – Chicago, IL – All Terrain Public Relations, a division of Chicago-based All Terrain integrated marketing, announced today that it has been selected as the Public Relations and Social Media Agency of Record for Bioelements, an award-winning professional skincare line.

All Terrain will work to increase the visibility of Bioelements as one of the highest-quality skincare lines available by providing a comprehensive awareness campaign including strategic counsel, social media consulting, media relations, corporate reputation, and media events services.

“We’ve provided Bioelements with production and event management services for ten years and are thrilled to now be their PR and social media agency,” said All Terrain Co-President and Chief Marketing Officer Brook Jay. “All Terrain and Bioelements have certainly come along way over the past decade. My team and I are proud of the sustainable, long-term relationship we have with our clients.”

“The All Terrain team hit the nail on the head when they presented to us an impressive, creative and results-oriented awareness program,” said Callie Lushina, Bioelements Vice President of Marketing. “All Terrain’s refreshing culture and high-quality, standard of service fits nicely with our brand. Their experience with high-value brands and social media/Web 2.0 programming matched our goals and objectives.”

All Terrain account leadership will be provided by Kevin Boyer, director of public relations and marketing, and Kristin Owen, public relations manager.

About Bioelements
Launched in 1991, Bioelements professional skin care is used and retailed in more than 3,000 spas worldwide. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Bioelements was founded by Barbara Salomone, one of the first-ever licensed estheticians in the United States. The product line is relied upon by estheticians, dermatologists and consumers for its precise dedication to understanding the skin and its unique custom blending of retail and professional products. The brand is a pioneer in the skin care industry and continues to meet the ever-changing needs of the skin care professional. Their trademarks include their top-flight ingredients, custom blending, lack of artificial dyes and perfumes, and clean-looking packaging. Visit http://www.bioelements.com.


About All Terrain
All Terrain Public Relations is a division of All Terrain, a 10-year-old full-service marketing agency that personalizes and connects brands with relevant consumers across a full spectrum of formats. From one night only experiential events to integrated multi-site, multi-city, multi-platform campaigns, our distinctive solutions yield high returns because we engage people in ways that build meaning and loyalty. All Terrain clients include major brands such as General Motors, Anheuser-Busch, Red Bull, Tribune Company, Stolichnaya, and Pernod-Ricard. All Terrain Public Relations was founded in 2007 and clients include Bioelements, Chicago Machine Major League Lacrosse, Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Chicago Public Library, Gay Games 2010, Underwriters Laboratories, and Apostrophe Brands/Kilo Kai Rum. Visit http://www.allterrain.net.

Beat the Economic Blues at the Chicago Public Library

Beat the Economic Blues at the Chicago Public Library

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 | 12:24 PM

See the story complete with video:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=6578139


Parents may not have been able to buy their children as many gifts as in past years.

The Chicago Public Library has come up with inexpensive and fun ways to help support their child's education. These programs and resources are fun, educational and FREE for everyone who has a library card (which is free to all Chicago residents).

These include:

FREE Wi-fi

Music Downloads

Movie Rentals

Audio Book Rentals (they have this VERY VERY cool thing they call a "Takeaway" it looks like an iPod but it's pre-loaded with a complete audio book)

Free meeting space (community groups, small businesses)

Educational kids' activities

More activities organized by age: from for pre-schoolers through high school

· "Backpacks" - Kids (with parents) check out the backpack and includes everything the kids need to explore. The first two items are for pre-schoolers

· Language Development Backpack. The Language Development Backpack was created to support early childhood literacy. Included in the backpack are books, alphabet blocks and word games. All of the contents of this backpack promote word recognition and phonics building.

· Mother Goose Backpack (Recipe for Fun).
The backpack includes a "First Mother Goose" book, Mother Goose building blocks and one cassette of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. This back pack was created to introduce young children to phonics and promote word recognition through visuals and audio.

· Environment CPL's "Bird Watching Backpack"
This backpack (which kids check out all together) contains everything a child would need to go bird watching. It has books on various types of birds, binoculars, informational cards that include information various types of birds and it also includes an audio bird identifier. Children can use this gadget to identify birds by the type of sounds they make.

· Science Chicago
Science Chicago takes place throughout the fall at various library branches and talks about the value of science and math education. CPL actually has a resident scientist that runs this. It's a very hands-on program  not just about the books.

· Teen Volume
This is for high school students. Developed to engage teens and increase literacy amongst the teen population, Teen Volume is a series of programs designed for teens by teens. Teen Volume offers teen Money Smart (financial literacy) Programs, Reading Lists, Book Discussions, Reader's Theater Programs, Creative Writing Workshops and Author Visits. The visual elements here are mostly books, but CPL has a Teen Volume Advisory Council and one of the teenagers could perhaps be part of the segment.

· College Students
CPL believes that most college students get their educational needs fulfilled at their academic libraries, so the CPL is there for entertainment. CPL has more than 11,000 movie titles, thousands of CDs and downloadable music and audio books. All are FREE with a CPL library card (which is also free!). Lots of great visuals here including newly released DVDs, Playaways (a portable audiobook, the size of a deck of cards), newly released CDs and possibly an iPod to translate the downloadable media

Kilo Kai Brings its “Take No Prisoners”™ Attitude to Arizona

Kilo Kai™. We Make Rum. Real Rum.
Kilo Kai Brings its “Take No Prisoners”™ Attitude to Arizona

Chicago, IL – Arizona residents will no longer have to cross state lines to California or Vegas in order to get their new favorite rum, Kilo Kai. The Chicago makers of Kilo Kai announced this week that the brand is now available throughout the State of Arizona, part of an ongoing nationwide expansion. Kilo Kai is now available in thousands of locations throughout California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada and Wisconsin. As the rum rolls out statewide in Arizona, consumers can visit www.KiloKai.com for a list of bars, nightclubs, as well as grocery and liquor stores where they can buy Kilo Kai.

Kilo Kai has expanded because of its great taste and its decision to affiliate with music and nightlife. The brand made national headlines after it was featured in the 2008 GRAMMY® Awards Gift Bag. Kilo Kai has sponsored numerous music events featuring artists such as The Bouncing Souls, Wu-Tang Clan, Flosstradamus, Pegboy, The Glamour, Reverend Horton Heat, The Las Vegas, Twista and The Supersuckers. The rum has developed a devoted following with its own facebook group and evangelistic bloggers.

Many also read about the brand’s clever promotion during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Cut-out footprints appeared on bathroom floors with the Kilo Kai logo and the tag “Tap your foot if you want to hook up with Kilo Kai,” a reference to the Minneapolis airport bathroom scandal featuring Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig. [Promo Magazine]

“You will hear about Kilo Kai mostly through bartenders, musicians, waiters and others connected to nightlife, culture and hospitality,” said Brad Trayser, president of Apostrophe Brands, the Chicago-based Kilo Kai importer. “Kilo Kai is the rum you will drink when you have decided taste is more important. We’re excited to share our great rum with our friends in Arizona.”

Better Tasting Rum
Compared to the market leader, Chris Null of the popular online liquor review site, DrinkHacker.com, gave Kilo Kai an “A” rating and said it was "spiced the way rum ought to be. … Kilo Kai was much smoother, with a creamy texture and a clear flavor of honey and cinnamon." Bill Jones of the music website PunkBands.com wrote, "I now have a great new choice when buying rum. (Compared to other brands) Kilo Kai tastes a hell of a lot better on its own." Theresa Carter, Chicago NBC5.com blogger and author of the popular website TheLocalTourist.com wrote, "Kilo Kai has convinced me to switch (rums) ... because it tastes good.” Julie Lawrence of OnMilwaukee.com commented that Kilo Kai was “smoother … This is a rum I’d actually consider drinking on the rocks.” Kevin Kosar of popular website AlcoholReviews.com gave Kilo Kai 4 out of 5 stars.

About Kilo Kai
Created by three generations of master rum distillers in Curacao, Kilo Kai is a spiced rum blended with the unique flavors and scents of the Caribbean. The complexity arises in the flavors of anise, vanilla, banana, cherry, nutmeg and orange peels. Crafted with 1-year-old and 3-year-old rums, Kilo Kai is the perfect rum for aficionados and novices alike because its complexity and unique blend of flavors allows it to be mixed in a favorite cocktail or enjoyed straight. The innovative package design features real skateboard tape on the bottle and is complete with Kilo Kai’s iconic logo. To learn more about Kilo Kai’s “Take No Prisoners” attitude, visit www.KiloKai.com. Please enjoy Kilo Kai responsibly.

Geothermal Power - DudeWeCanFixIt.com

There is a better way than through this kind of "geothermal power." Want to learn more, visit www.DudeWeCanFixIt.com to learn how you we can work together to fix the climate crisis. Video and website donated by All Terrain integrated marketing, www.allterrain.net. Dude We Can Fix It

The Golden Ticket

What a Night!

Four Cities Named Finalists for 2014 Gay Games

Boston, Cleveland, Miami and Washington DC Will Bid to host Gay Games IX

Cape Town, South Africa (28 October 2008) -- Groups from Miami (Florida), Cleveland (Ohio) Boston (Massachusetts), and Washington (D.C.), have submitted letters of intent to bid for the ninth edition of the Gay Games, to be held in 2014, officials announced at the close of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) annual meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.

“Fourteen (14) cities worldwide had expressed interest in hosting the 2014 Gay Games,” said Darl Schaaff, co-chair of the Federation’s Site Selection Committee. “We are very excited to now have four highly qualified bidders for the 2014 Gay Games who met the 20 October 2008 letter-of-intent deadline.”

Bid documents are due to the FGG in March of 2009. FGG Site inspectors will then visit each city between May and August of 2009. After final multi-media presentations, the 2014 Gay Games host city will then be selected by the Federation of Gay Games Assembly at its 2009 annual meeting in Cologne, Germany next October. The FGG Assembly is comprised of organisations representing sports clubs, city teams, and cultural groups from around the globe.

Previous Gay Games have been held in San Francisco, USA (1982, 1986), Vancouver, Canada (1990), New York, USA (1994), Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1998), Sydney, Australia (2002) and Chicago, USA (2006). Gay Games VIII will be held 31 July – 7 August 2010 in Cologne, Germany. Gay Games Cologne registration officially launches worldwide on 31 October 2008 at www.games-cologne.com.

Organisers from Cleveland and Miami had representatives present in Cape Town, South Africa, in support of their intent to bid for Gay Games IX 2014.

The Gay Games is the largest and longest running multi-sport event on the international LGBT calendar, with more than eleven thousand participants taking part in approximately 30 sports and cultural events every four years. Ever since the organisers of the first two Gay Games in San Francisco decided to send the event to other cities, groups from dozens of cities on four continents have sought the honour of hosting the Gay Games. A wide range of government officials, Olympic athletes, celebrities and community leaders now support local bid groups in their efforts to showcase the Gay Games.

“We extend our best wishes to the groups from Boston, Cleveland, Miami, and Washington D.C. who have entered this stage of the bidding process,” Communications Officer Kelly Stevens said. “The FGG looks forward to working with them during the bidding cycle.”

For information on how to sponsor or participate in Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010, visit www.games-cologne.com. For information concerning sponsors of the Federation of Gay Games, go to www.gaygames.org. Images for press and promotion of Gay Games are available on the gallery link at www.gaygames.org or by request.

About The Federation of Gay Games:

The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games were conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and were first held in San Francisco in 1982. Participation in the Gay Games is open to anyone without pre-qualifications regardless of sexual orientation, physical ability, age, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religions, political conviction, race, or health status. For more information, visit www.gaygames.org.

“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany and Australia.

CONTACTS: Kevin Boyer, FGG Spokesperson, Kevin.Boyer@allterrain.net, +1 312-588-3713