Orbitz was named the official online travel agency for Gay Games VII, a week-long sports and cultural event taking place next year July 15-22 in Chicago. Orbitz was the first major online travel company to launch a gay travel microsite and continues to make diversity a priority as a Global Gold Sponsor for the Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival.

As a Global Gold Sponsor, Orbitz will provide travel and lodging services to the Chicago organizers of the Gay Games and promote the Gay Games in Orbitz television ads on Bravo and other networks. Special Chicago destination information and promotion of the Gay Games and Orbitz travel services will be distributed online.

Fans, athletes and artists traveling to Chicago for the Gay Games can go to Orbitz’ gay travel microsite to book air, hotel and car rentals. Orbitz also plans to launch travel packages on the microsite in September.

“Orbitz is proud to be a global sponsor of Gay Games VII which will take place in our hometown of Chicago,” said Mitch Truwit, president and chief executive officer of Orbitz. “Our gay travel microsite makes it fast and easy for both athletes and spectators to find gay-friendly travel options for Chicago. Gay and lesbian travelers represent some of Orbitz’ best customers, and this sponsorship of Gay Games VII is yet another example of our ongoing commitment to support the LGBT community.”

Orbitz was the first major online travel agency to offer specialized travel services to the GLBT community through its extensive gay travel microsite.

“Since its inception, Orbitz has been committed to meeting the special needs of the gay and lesbian traveler and is ideally positioned to help ensure that participants and spectators have a successful journey to and from Chicago next year,” said FGG co-president Roberto Mantaci from his home in Paris.

Over 12,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in 30 sports ranging from softball and dancesport to swimming and tennis at the Gay Games VII. The week-long event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, a chorus, an ancillary arts festival and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 15 at Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of American-style football’s Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be on July 22 at Wrigley Field, the home of major league baseball’s Chicago Cubs, located in the heart of Chicago’s largest GLBT neighborhood. -Press Release