Many of you are planning to go to Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany in 2010 and to the Outgames in Copenhagen in 2009. If you are reading this, you are already been benefiting from Team Chicago's work to prepare for these two major international events. We are making exciting plans for the future of LGBT sports in the Midwest and have begun to attract sponsors to support our programs, future sports and cultural festivals, and scholarship assistance for international events.

In order to accurately represent you and help connect you with athletes and cultural participants our community we want to count you as a member! Here is a listing of some of the benefits of becoming a member.

• Team Chicago members traveling to the Gay Games and Outgames will receive a discount on uniforms for the opening & closing ceremonies, as well as gifts from our sponsors.
• Team Chicago members will get discounts on registration/admission fees to future special events.
• Team Chicago members will receive special discounts at the retail stores and restaurants of our sponsors.
• Your membership helps sustain Team Chicago's operations.

Start Planning Now to Attend Gay Games VIII
Gay Games VIII will take place in Cologne, Germany between 31 July and 7 August 2010. Thousands of international participants from all over the world are expected to take part in this sport and cultural event. Participant figures are anticipated to reach Olympic size. See http://www.games-cologne.com for details. You can sign up for their newsletter from that page.

The host of Gay Games VIII, Games Cologne gGmbH is expecting more than 46,000 guests for the Opening Ceremony at the Stadium "RheinEnergieStadion" in Cologne, home of the famous Cologne Soccer Club. Please join your fellow Team Chicago members for a week-long celebration of sports competition and cultural events.

Team Chicago has arranged a savings plan with Harris Bank. You can enroll in this free plan and start saving now for your trip to Europe by calling 312-649-5000 and ask to speak to Lawrence Passo.

About Gay Games VII
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival took place in Chicago from 15-22 July 2006. With 11,750 athletes from 50 countries competing in 30 sports, the weeklong event included band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony was held 15 July at Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of American-style football's Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony was 22 July at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs.

About The Gay Games
The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990; 7,300 participants), New York (1994; 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998; 13,000 participants), and Sydney (2002; 11,000 participants).

The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal BestTM. For more information, visit www.GayGames.com/en.

About World Outgames 2009
World Outgames 2009 takes place in Copenhagen 25 July - 2 August 2009. Featuring sports, conferences and cultural events, you will be welcome at World Outgames 2009 and the city of Copenhagen. See http://www.copenhagen2009.org for details.

About Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association
GLISA is an international gay and lesbian sport association. Modeled after a multi-sport governing body, its members are international sporting federations, continental associations representing sport teams and clubs from the major regions of the world, and host cities of GLISA's World Outgames and Continental Outgames. For details see http://www.glisa.org/. GLISA's key activities are summarized in the following 4 pillars: its Members, its Partners, the Outgames, and its Team, which is committed to legacy in the form of transfer of knowledge, innovation in the delivery of services, and professionalism in the implementation of marketing and sponsorship strategies.

Unfortunately the First World Outgames lost more than $5 million. For information and post-games spin see http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=4&STORY_ID=3360&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=2.