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Obama endorses Orlando, Fla., bid to host 2018 Gay Games

Obama endorses Orlando, Fla., bid to host 2018 Gay Games

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has announced his support for bringing the 2018 Gay Games to Orlando, Fla.

In a letter to the organizing committee, Obama said he was “committed to advancing equality for the LGBT community, both in America and around the world.”

Barack Obama

He called Orlando a “vibrant tourism industry” ideal for the games, and said the city “would be honored to provide the guests and athletes a wonderful, unique experience.”

The international Gay Games debuted in San Francisco in 1982 and is held every four years, and attracts an average of 200,000 attendees, including 14,000 athletes.

Of the nine games held, the United States has been host five times; Cleveland, Ohio will host the 2014 games, which could make at difficult for the U.S. to host again in 2018.

But as Outsports points out, Obama is the first president to show his support this way for an American city to host the Gay Games.

Also under consideration as host cities for 2018 are London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Limerick, Ireland.

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