CLEVELAND: 99 Year-Old Runner Ida Keeling Sets Record At Gay Games

Via local television:

"My doctor told me two years straight I'm as healthy as a healthy 20-year-old. Hooray!" Keeling said prior to her race. Her coach and daughter, Shelley Kelling, reminded Ida to stay in her lane and focus on the finish line. When the starter fired his pistol, the crowd immediately began cheering for the senior citizen from New York City and the clapping and whistling didn't stop until she finished, with a time of 59.80 seconds. She came in last place, but that didn't matter to anyone, including Ida. "I feel I'm still a winner," she said. Shelley Kelling said no woman at her mother's age has ever recorded a faster time in an internationally certified 100-meter race. "She does not only inspire people that are young or that are out here. It's a message that you can do this at any age," Shelley added.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

Linda Harvey Slams Ohio Republicans For Welcoming Participants In Gay Games

Linda Harvey wants her followers to send emails to the Ohio GOP because they welcomed participants to the Gay Games in Cleveland. Sort of related: I've just figured out why Harvey's voice has always sounded so familiar - she sounds exactly like the old biddy in A League Of Their Own who goes on the radio to complain about the "masculinization" of women. 

At The Gay Games Opening Ceremony

Via the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Safe to say, not many sporting events would include a trio of drag singers lip-syncing "Proud Mary" as the opening number. Or an athlete from Mexico decked out in a sombrero -- and knee-high, red, platform boots and skimpy silver shorts. Or the delegation from the Russian Federation earning substantial cheers and a standing ovation from spectators and participants alike at The Q. Gay Games 9 kicked off Saturday evening with a uniquely expressive Opening Ceremonies featuring performers such as Lance Bass and the Pointer Sisters, remarks from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and his wife, former Plain Dealer columnist and Pulitzer winner Connie Schultz, and even a surprise video message from President Barack Obama. It marked the start of a week-long celebration of the LGBT community through sport and entertainment. About 9,000 participants and 20,000 spectators, in all, are expected to make an economic impact on the Cleveland-Akron region of about $40 million. Before the ceremonies began, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson shared exactly what he told the Gay Games selection committee before event was awarded to Cleveland in 2009. "If you come to Cleveland, you will be the centerpiece, and we will do all we can to make these the most successful games yet," Jackson said.

Obama Welcomes Gay Games Participants

"I know some of you have come from places where it requires courage, even defiance, to come out - some times at great personal risk. You should know that the United States stands with you and for your human rights - just as our athletes stand with you on the field at these Games. After all, the very idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, or who you love - you can make it if you try. That's who we are and that's who we should continually strive to be." - President Barack Obama, in a welcoming statement played tonight at the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games in Cleveland.

Gay Games 9 Open In Cleveland

The opening ceremonies are underway at this writing. Follow along at the Twitter hashtag #GayGames.  The Windy City Times is live-tweeting as well.

Friday In NYC: Gay Games Registration

Via the event's Facebook page:

Gay Games Registration Party on Friday, May 2nd from 6-9pm at Gym Sportsbar – 167 8TH Ave, New York, NY. Finalize your plans to participate in the world's largest international multi-sport event coming to Cleveland+Akron August 9-16, 2014. More than 20,000 participants and visitors from over 40 countries are expected to compete and celebrate with all kinds of world-class sports, parties and events. The 2014 Gay Games is the last Games in North America until at least 2022. REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 31 MAY 2014.

More about the Gay Games.

Linda Harvey Praises Muslim Cabbies For Refusing To Drive With Gay Games Ads

Linda Harvey has praised the Muslim cab drivers in Cleveland who have refused to drive with Gay Games ads on their vehicles. According to Harvey, gay activists are hypocritical for not denouncing the cabbies because there would be outrage if the drivers were Christians.

RELATED: The Cleveland Plain Dealer editorialized last week:

It's unfortunate that nearly one-third of the 75 cab drivers employed by companies under contract to provide taxi service at city-owned Cleveland Hopkins International Airport walked off the job recently rather than drive vehicles that advertise the upcoming Gay Games in Greater Cleveland. But the incident underscores how critical it is as the Games approach to do more education and outreach about this sporting event, which is open to all athletes, gay and straight, who are over the age of 18. The taxi drivers who quit are Muslim and cited religious reasons for not wanting to drive cabs promoting the Games, airport spokeswoman Jacqueline Mayo said. It's certainly their prerogative to do so. But Cleveland, and Akron, where many of the events will be held, need and want to show a friendly face.

CLEVELAND: Muslim Cab Drivers Refuse To Work With Gay Games Advertising

Cleveland television reported on Friday that some Muslim cab drivers have walked off the job rather than drive taxis with the above advertising for the Gay Games, which take place there in August.

19 Action News reporter Brian Duffy spoke with about 20 cabbies at the airport who are still driving and all of them confirmed there are drivers who have walked off the job on protest. Representatives of AmeriCab, one of the three cab companies on the job at the airport, also confirmed the protest but say only one of their drivers has been reassigned. We're told at least 16-17 drivers who work for Ace Taxi, another company working out of the airport, are no longer driving. We went to Ace but were told they were too busy to talk to us. Yellow Cab, a third cab company at the airport, never returned our calls. Tom Nobbe, the executive director of the games, says he's a bit disappointed. "When you look at what's going on around the world it's not a huge surprise. In some parts of the world LGBT folks are not very welcome," said Tom Nobbe of the Gay Games.

Cleveland International Airport has issued a statement:

Today, two of the three taxi cab companies (Ace and Yellow Taxi Cab) operating from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) were informed by several of their drivers they will no longer participate in the airport's (CLE) dedicated taxi cab program. The drivers informed their respective companies their decision was based on religious reasons. The airport is committed to providing this necessary customer service to our arriving passengers seeking transportation from the airport to their final destination. An agreement has been brokered by the airport between the taxi cab stand operator, Standard Parking, and the affected taxi cab companies that will allow for the replacement of those drivers who no longer wish to participate in CLE's taxi cab program. The affected taxi cab companies will backfill the airport's dedicated fleet with metered taxi cabs until each company can hire permanent drivers for the airport's taxi cab program. It is expected to take approximately two to three weeks to repopulate the airport's Taxi fleet.

(Tipped by JMG reader Dan)

Cleveland Gay Games 2014 Commercial To Air Tonight In Six Television Markets

Via Outlook Columbus:

Organizers of the 2014 Gay Games will give viewers of tonight’s Winter Olympics opening ceremonies a subtle reminder of the anti-LGBT atmosphere in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Thirty-second commercials for the Gay Games are set to air during NBC’s telecast in Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Buffalo and the host cities of Cleveland and Akron. The Gay Games, an international event that takes place every four years, are scheduled for Aug. 9-16 in Cleveland and Akron. About 10,000 competitors and another 20,000 spectators are expected from around the world. “These are great times we live in – exciting, complicated, extraordinary times,” a narrator says as the commercial begins with scenes of Gay Games medals, athletes, welcoming residents of northeastern Ohio and Cleveland’s annual Pride festival.

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

Paris To Host Gay Games 2018

The Federation of Gay Games tonight declared Paris to be the winner of the bidding to host Gay Games X, which will be held in 2018. Paris beat fellow finalists London and Limerick, Ireland. Eliminated earlier this year were Amsterdam and Orlando, the latter of which had earned the endorsement of President Obama. Via press release:

The international delegates and board of directors of the Federation of Gay Games voted at the end of a three-day meeting featuring site inspection reports, question-and-answer sessions, committee reviews and, a highlight of the event, the oral presentation by each bidding organization. This meeting was held in Cleveland, host with Akron, of the 2014 Gay Games, presented by the Cleveland Foundation next year from 9-16 August. David Killian, co-chair of the FGG Site Selection Committee, noted some factors that may have influenced voters in their choice: “The vote is the result of dozens of individual choices, but some points stood out for many voters. Paris proposed a wide range of sports in quality venues, many of which offer good visibility for the event. French LGBT sport organizations already have a great deal of experience hosting international multisport tournaments, and their LGBT community presents outstanding cultural events. They are already well advanced in planning, for example, with the designation of a dedicated sports manager. They arrived with demonstrable political support, including Minister for Sport Valerie Fourneyron and five-time Olympic fencing medalist Laura Flessel, who were part of the presentation team. And of course Paris is a great destination to visit or revisit.”

Today's vote was held in Cleveland, which will host Gay Games IX in August 2014.

Morning View - Cleveland MOCA

Afternoon View - Cleveland Museum Of Art

The buildings on the right and left house the main exhibits. In the middle today local artists were selling prints of their work.

Morning View - Cleveland Gear

The Positively Cleveland folks have had us on the go-go-go since the minute we arrived. Hopefully I'll have time later today to recap some of the Gay Games items that we've learned. Tonight they have us finishing our evening at a club called Bounce. We'll be there by around 10pm, so I hope to see some JMG folks there. Join us!

Morning View - Cleveland Hotel Lobby

I'm In Cleveland

I'm in Cleveland for four days as part of a press junket sponsored by Positively Cleveland, the marketing agency for the local convention and visitors bureau. We're primarily here as part of Cleveland's push for the Gay Games 2014, which runs next year from August 9th -16th and is expected to draw 11,000 athletes from around the world. There's a ton of stuff on our itinerary, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Horseshoe Casino, museums, and lots of interesting looking restaurants. On Saturday night they have us finishing our evening at a club called Bounce, so we might do a JMG readers meet-up there. (More on that tomorrow.) Full disclosure: The agency is footing the bill for our airfare, lodging, meals, excursions, hookers, blow - the whole shebang. Fuller disclosure: I'm completely open to similar offers from the cities of Rio, Barcelona, Puerto Vallarta....

Orlando And Amsterdam Eliminated As Potential Hosts For Gay Games 2018

The Federation of Gay Games has eliminated the bids of Orlando and Amsterdam to be the host cities of the Gay Games in 2018.  The cities still in the running are London, Paris, and Limerick, Ireland.  Orlando's bid was endorsed by President Obama earlier this year.  The 2014 Gay Games will be held in Cleveland and Akron.

Young Professionals Back Campaign To Bring The 2018 Gay Games To Paris

Popular dance act The Young Professionals is backing the campaign to bring the 2018 Gay Games to Paris.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

Obama Backs Orlando For Gay Games

Orlando wants to host the 2018 Gay Games and President Obama seems to think that's a good idea. Via Lou Chibarro at Washington Blade:

“I am pleased to voice my support for the City of Orlando’s bid to host the Gay Games 2018,” the president said in a letter to Orlando 2018, the organization working on the bid. “As President of the United States, I am committed to advancing equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, both in America and around the world,” he said. Mikael Audebert, project director for Orlando 2018, said Obama’s endorsement letter is believed to mark the first time a U.S. president has expressed support for the Gay Games or any LGBT event of that size.

Cleveland will host the 2014 Gay Games and some observers believe it's unlikely that an American city would be chosen twice in a row. The most recent Games were held in Cologne, Germany and previous host cities include Chicago, Sydney, Amsterdam, New York City, Vancouver, and San Francisco.

Obama's letter includes this message: “Orlando’s vibrant tourism industry makes it ideally suited to host a record-breaking number of more than 200,000 attendees – including over 14,000 athletes – and the city would be honored to provide the guests and athletes a wonderful, unique experience. I strongly support Orlando’s bid, and I urge the Federation of Gay Games to approve it.”

AIDS Quilt Ceremony At Gay Games

Like much of what the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do, this ceremony manages to be simultaneously silly and moving. I believe this is the local Cologne order.

Gay Games 2010 Open In Germany