David Cameron supports bid for London to host 2018 Gay Games
David Cameron has voiced his support for a bid aiming to have the Gay Games brought to London in 2018.
Ministers have also pledged to help organisers of the games to negotiate the use of Olympic Venues, if the bid is successful, reports the Evening Standard.
David Cameron said: “The UK is currently bidding for the Gay Games in 2018 in London, which could give us something to cheer on that year, and I wish them every luck.”
Equalities minister Helen Grant, who has already met with leaders of the campaign to secure the games, also commented on the bid for the London Gay Games, 2018, saying: “My department wholeheartedly backs the bid to bring the 2018 Gay Games to London.”
She continued that it was important that the government “stands ready to facilitate discussions if necessary”, on organisers being able to secure the venues from the London Legacy Development Corporation, the owner of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
The other cities in the running for the games are Paris, Orlando, Amsterdam, Limerick and Rio de Janeiro. Over 12,000 participants from 70 nations are expected to compete in the games.
The Prime Minister recently voiced his support for equal marriage, and the government’s plans to legalise marriage equality in the UK this year, and said “I’m a massive supporter of marriage and I don’t want gay people to be excluded from a great institution.”
Yesterday, former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, accused the government’s plans to legalise equal marriage as being “divisive, ill thought through and constitutionally wrong”.
The Gay Games is held ever four years, and the next is due to take place in the US city of Cleveland in Ohio in 2014.
During the games, people compete at all levels, from beginner to elite athletes, in up to 30 sports.
