About Us

In 1992 Team Chicago came together again to support Chicago residents who were planning to participate in Gay Games IV in New York City in 1994. Team Chicago sponsored a reception for cross-country gay bicyclists and for the first time provided uniforms to all Gay Games participants.

The 1998 the Games were held in Amsterdam – a bit further to travel. Team Chicago offered a wider range of activities to motivate athletes and cultural participants from the area to participate. Events leading up to Gay Games V included a fund-raising calendar, a float in the Chicago Pride Parade, and a send-off cruise for Team Chicago participants. Chicagoans were greeted in Amsterdam with a welcoming party at Club Boom Chicago that kicked off a memorable week.

Team Chicago became a member of the Federation of Gay Games in 2002 following several years of being an observer. Team Chicago delegates participated actively on the FGG’s Sports and Outreach Committees. See the FGG’s website at www.gaygames.com. We sponsored the 2004 meeting of the Federation’s Strategic Planning Committee in July of 2004.

Although Gay Games VI were even further away, under new skies in Sydney Australia. More than 120 Team Chicago members made the long plane trip and either competed in the Games or had a great time watching. Team Chicago awarded four sponsorships to help worthy Chicagoans attend the 2002 Games – two travel packages and two cash grants – worth more than $5,000. Chicagoans brought home more than 60 medals.

Team Chicago members played an active role in supporting the first bid by Chicago 2006 and the second (successful) bid by Chicago Games Inc. to host Gay Games VII. We partnered with Chicago Games Inc. to sponsor the Federation’s annual meeting in Chicago in November of 2003. More than 1,200 Team Chicago members, 500 people in Team Chicago tee shirts, and 500 others from the Chicago area marched triumphantly into Soldier Field for the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games VII on July 15, 2006. We welcomed the world to Chicago, won hundreds of medals, and had a great time. Continue that excitement by marching with us in this year’s Pride Parade and taking part in the Midwest GLBT Sports and Cultural Festival

As Gay Games VIII approaches, more and more things will be happening in Chicago's sports and cultural communities. Athletes' training schedules will take them to a new level. You can get in on this by providing Team Chicago with profile information when you join our mailing list.

If you share information about your sport, the events you plan to participate in during Gay Games VIII, and your training needs or challenges, we'll try to connect you with other Team Chicago members and resources to help take your game to where you want it to be. On this webpage you will be able to find a training partner or coach, obtain training tips, and enroll in our peer support program. Cultural participants will network on the creation of art works, events, and performances.

Team Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization whose goal is to encourage and promote the participation of Chicago area residents in the Gay Games®. Donations to Team Chicago are tax deductible.

Key Accomplishments

Team Chicago first encountered athletes from The Rainbow Project (TRP), a lesbian sports organization of 150 members from Windhoek, Namibia, at the 2001 Annual Meeting of the Federation of Gay Games. Its members were not able to play soccer safely in Windhoek because of homophobia. As Team Chicago's delegates to the 2001 FGG annual meeting came in contact with some of the female African workshop participants, a vision and a plan of action began to take form. Since soccer is so popular in villages and big cities alike, why not hold a soccer tournament so lesbians in Africa had a way to meet, compete, and also develop organizational skills.

The tournament would be held in the relative safety of the Johannesburg/Soweto area and would host local teams, a team from Namibia, and be open to any other country or locale that could field a team. Team Chicago adopted the "Rainbow Warrior" team from Namibia as its "sister team." Team Chicago raised funds to allow 16 TRP members to travel by bus from Windhoek to Johannesburg (a 24 hour trip) in February of 2002. Team Chicago had soccer jerseys made so that the three soccer teams (2 from Soweto and 1 from Windhoek, Namibia) could have them to play in a soccer tournament. Team Chicago also paid for meals and a lodging fee at a hostel for the TRP members during their stay in Soweto.

Team Chicago has sponsored the Midwest GLBT Sports and Cultural Festival for the last four years. Building on a tradition of having a multi-event festival, started by Peg Grey, the event has grown dramatically. The first festivals were held in 1989 and 1990 in preparation for the 1990 Gay Games. Those events had 10 activities and attendance from throughout the Midwest. Recent Midwest GLBT Sports and Cultural Festivals have grown from 1,200 participants in 2000 to more than 2,400 participants in 2005, taking part in 14 activities. Competitions were sponsored by the Windy City Athletic Association, Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, and Women's Sports Association.

Team Chicago has brought lots of athletes to the Gay Games. 250 participate in Gay Games IV in New York in 1994. 100 went to Amsterdam for Gay Games V in 1998. Sydney was further away and international unease deterred some participants. Still more than 125 Chicagoans traveled to Sydney, bringing back 62 medals in all. With the Gay Games in Chicago in 2006, Team Chicago will march proudly into the Opening Ceremonies with more participants than at any prior Gay Games.

Mission Statement

Team Chicago provides individuals and organizations with the opportunity to participate in sporting and cultural events according to their personal interests and capabilities. Team Chicago’s mission is to provide support to the LGBT community, furthering participation, inclusion, and pursuit of personal best.

We do this through promotion, outreach, and sponsorship.

Contact Us:

Team Chicago

Post Office Box 13470

Chicago, Illinois 60613

Phone: (312) 409-5155

Email: info@teamchicago.org