Cleveland City Council has agreed to
pitch in an additional $700,000 to sweeten its bid to host the Gay
Games in 2014, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
The move came Tuesday night and at the
request of Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
Cleveland is in competition with Boston
and Washington, D.C. to host the international event. Site selection
officials from the Federation of Gay Games toured all three cities
throughout the summer. Gay Games officials capped their Cleveland
tour with a lively party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
in July, which was attended by several city councilmembers and the
mayor.
City officials said the $700,000 grant
would only be dispersed if Cleveland is selected as the host city.
At stake is the opportunity to host up
to 12,000 athletes competing in 28 events and 100,000 spectators in
the summer of 2014. The Olympic-style sporting event is estimated to
be worth $60 million in economic impact.
“We're showing in good faith that we
want to bring the Gay Games here and are willing to put up some
cash,” Tracey Nichols, economic development director for the city,
said Monday during a Finance Committee meeting.
Gay Games officials are expected to
announce the winning bid later this month in Cologne, Germany.