The Gay Games VII sports program has been expanded to feature five new popular sports. Athletes will now be able to compete in rugby, darts, flag football (American style), billiards and DanceSport (ballroom dancing) at the Gay Games scheduled for July 15-22, 2006, in Chicago.

The board of director of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) selected the five new sports after a thorough review of available venues, interest from potential competitors, the sports legacy of Gay Games I through VI and financial viability.

“DanceSport and Rugby are both global sports that have seen significant recent growth in the US,” said Suzanne Arnold, one of Chicago’s sports chairs. “One of the strengths of the Gay Games movement has been to introduce sports to our worldwide communities, often yielding international growth. Having DanceSport and rugby in the Chicago Gay Games will help grow both sports in the US and beyond.”

“Darts, flag football and billiards are all popular in the US and all three have shown recent significant growth in participation by US LGBT sports leagues,” said Ted Cappas, another of Chicago’s sports chairs. “Chicago’s LGBT dart leagues count more than 300 participants, while Chicago’s LGBT flag football leagues may be the largest in the world, with 14 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams. This expertise helped give us the confidence to add these sports to Gay Games VII.”

A total of 30 sports will now be featured at the quadrennial event. The Gay Games VII sports program features badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, billiards, bowling, cycling, DanceSport, darts, diving, flag football, figure skating, golf, ice hockey, marathon, martial arts, physique/body building, power lifting, racquetball, rowing, rugby, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, triathlon, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. The cultural program will feature participant performances in band and chorus. Twelve thousand participants are expected at Gay Games VII.

-Press Release