Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the group
that bid for and won the right to put on the Gay Games 2014 in Cleveland,
is vowing it will remain in control.
In the first official word from Synergy
officials since rumors surfaced that the Federation of Gay Games
(FGG) was discussing the possibility of replacing Synergy, the group
said it is preparing to defend itself.
“The Cleveland Synergy Foundation has
met all of its commitments to the Federation of Gay Games,” Founder
Jeff Axberg said in a statement released Monday. “We look forward
to quickly resolving any questions the Federation may have, and
moving forward in the same spirit of teamwork and collaboration that
won the Games for Cleveland and Akron.”
The statement comes on the same day
that gay
sports website Outsports.com published a leaked letter from city
officials that says Cleveland is “suspending any further payments
to Synergy until the outstanding issues between the FGG and Synergy
are resolved.”
What issues need to be resolved remain
a mystery. Gay Games North America Representative Kevin Boyer
refused to comment on the controversy.
But at the center of the dispute
appears to be allegations from representatives from competing cities
Boston and Washington D.C. claiming that Cleveland's
bid broke several rules and suggesting that the selection was
politically motivated.
The dispute is being played out as
officials in Cologne, Germany prepare to host Gay Games 2010, which
opens in less than two weeks.