The 10th Gay Games Are Coming to Paris with Lower Fees Until January 1!

Athletes, artists, culture-focused travelers and Francophiles, if you're making 2018 travel plans, consider booking your spot at Gay Games 10, coming to Paris, August 4-12.

Not only do early bird fees go up on January 1, but participation in some events (including golf) is filling up already.

With 15,000 maximum participants, 36 sports, 14 cultural events, and amateur LGBT+ athletes from an estimated 70 countries participating, Gay Games 10-the world's largest sporting and cultural event that's open to all entrants-will be a celebration of diversity. "We promote equality in and through sport and culture," says Tony Smith, Officer of Communications, Federation of Gay Games. "The Gay Games are open to all, young or old, athlete or artist, experienced or novice, gay or straight. Our common theme is 'inclusion.'"

To that end, the Gay Games include not only athletes of all ages and skill levels, but also art, dance, music, theater events and more. To register and learn more about events and hospitality options, visit www.paris2018.com or click here to skip to the registration page.

A Range of Events

Many of the events mirror those found in the summer Olympic games plus a few winter events. In addition to Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, 5K and other Track & Field events, games will include: Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Boxing, Cycling-Mountain Biking, Cyclisme-Road Races, Dance Sport, Fencing, Field Hockey, Figure Skating, Football, Golf, Handball, Judo, Ice Hockey, Martial Arts, Roller Derby, Roller Skating, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Softball, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Urban Dance Workshop, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

The Gay Games also feature a number of aquatic events, including Diving, Open Water, Swimming, Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo. The majority of events will be held at venues across metropolitan Paris, with sailing events at Le Havre on the Normandy coast.

Two unique events, P�tanque and Pink Flamingo, require additional explanation. P�tanque is a form of boules where the goal is to toss or roll hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball. A colorful aquatics show featuring swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, open water swimming and diving athletes, the spectacular Pink Flamingo event concludes the Paris 2018 - Gay Games 10 Aquatics week.

The ever-growing and wide-ranging list of cultural events will include ballet, films, cheerleading (!), choirs, orchestral and band concerts, a fashion show, a grand ball, and the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies. For additional information, visit www.paris2018.com/culture-list

Exciting and Affordable Lodging Options

Parisians often leave town during the month of August, and the city is more popular with tourists during the spring and fall, which means accommodations should be available at hotels and other lodgings across a range of styles and price points.

"Prices are usually lower than at other times of the year in Paris. You will find many hotel rooms and other accommodation at all price levels, but with competition from other Gay Games travelers, don't wait to reserve accommodations," Smith says. "Availability will shrink and prices rise closer to the event."

Games participants, their partners and friends can book accommodations through Gay Games' Paris 2018 travel partner, KTS FRANCE, which can arrange flights, transfers, sightseeing and other activities. Group rates also are available.

If you're interested in home-sharing with a queer twist, consider booking through misterb&b, the proud�official partner of Paris 2018 for bed and breakfast and apartment rentals. With a mission that aligns with Paris 2018's tagline "All Equal," misterb&b allows LGBTQ travelers to "stay like a gay local."

To book apartments and rooms, see misterb&b�here

Continuing a Proud History

Inspired by the spirit of resistance shown by athletes at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, former Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell founded the Gay Games in 1982. San Francisco hosted the first two games (1982 and 1986), with subsequent games held in Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010) and Cleveland + Akron (2014).

Since 1982, the FGG mission has promoted equality and is the largest sport and culture event in the world open to all. Its legacy changes social and political attitudes towards LGBT+ people through the core principles of "Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best�." Gay Games 10 - Paris 2018 is a non-profit organization with fees and additional donations going to support local LGBT+charities.

For those who like to plan ahead, the 2022 Gay Games XI will be held in Hong Kong, the games' first event in Asia.

After you've registered and taken advantage of the lower fees, you can share Gay Games 10 with friends and fellow athletes and artists on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To get in on the conversation, be sure to include the hashtags #gaygames and #allequal.

www.Facebook.com/FederationofGayGames
www.Instagram.com/GayGames
www.Twitter.com/GayGames