LAKEWOOD, Ill. (AP) – Organizers of a Gay Games rowing competition have gotten the final go-ahead to hold the event at a suburban Chicago lake during the Olympics-style gathering of GLBT athletes this summer.

The Lakewood Village Board voted 3-1 April 11 to approve changes to wake times on Crystal Lake and boat-decal fee waivers for the July 16 event, the (Crystal Lake) Northwest Herald reported. Lakewood’s Village Board was the last of three panels to approve the event.

Nancy Harris, sports director of the Gay Games, said she’s happy all needed approvals are in.

“We’re very excited to be coming out here,” she told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a wonderful venue.”

Last week, Crystal Lake’s city council voted 6-1 in favor of hosting the rowing event on its namesake lake, planned as part of the Gay Games competition in Chicago July 15-22. The city’s park district voted to approve the event last month.

The bedroom community about 50 miles northwest of Chicago had been divided about the decision.

At emotional park district hearings in March, opponents argued that the games are an inappropriate attempt to legitimize and celebrate the “gay lifestyle,” and that organizers are more interested in making a social statement than competing.

Supporters had criticized the resistance as discriminatory and hateful, and said such opposition underscores the Gay Games’ mission of tearing down gay stereotypes.

Most of the events for the Gay Games are set in Chicago. Organizers have said the weeklong competition is expected to draw 12,000 participants, tens of thousands of spectators and pump more than $50 million into the local economy.