Last night the 9th Gay Games, presented by the Cleveland Foundation, kicked off with its opening ceremony. If you were following GLAAD on Twitter, you may have seen some of the images. Here's a full recap of the evening:
GLAAD board member, Lana Moore, and I split up our duties. While Lana attended a reception for the Gay Games leaders and partner organizations, I was at Progressive Field, where the athletes were gathering to line up. The Gay Games even turned lining up into a party! Sirus Out Q radio was on hand to speak to several participants, while music kept everyone's spirits up.
Canadian bowlers arrive for participant staging before the @GG9Cleveland opening ceremony. pic.twitter.com/ykWxtyPZiV
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
South African athlete interviewed by @OutQ@SIRIUSXM at the @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/3o0O7Yt1Et
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Russian #lgbt sports federation at @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/ijmo9LaKOI
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
After the participants were lined up, I joined Lana, and her friend, J, at our seats:
Pre @GG9Cleveland selfie for @glaad with @LanaMMoore and J! pic.twitter.com/FBZPw5NX1n
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
The parade of athletes took an hour, calling each country, and then each US state. San Francisco is the first delegation, since the Gay Games began in San Francisco in 1986.
San Francisco enters the opening ceremony of @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/3RruuLxg6E
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Team Australia at @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/xzx32GKQL9
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Guam! @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/1xRFOs2xpD
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
One of the biggest moments of the night was when the 30 members of the Russian LGBT Sports Federation entered the arena. They stopped in the middle of the floor, while the crowd stood and cheered.
The crowd went NUTS for the Russian federation, and I got a little choked up at @GG9Cleveland. Everyone in solidarity pic.twitter.com/PfF0dPI2cq
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
California was a big contingent at the @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/WCr1Q8pIwq
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Host Ohio enters. @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/zKHMhRuTmU
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Patriotic gays. @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/lNUdOH68uy
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 9, 2014
Greetings came from several dignitaries, including the owners Cleveland's professional sports teams, the mayors of Cleveland and Akron, Senator Sherrod Brown and his wife, Pulitizer-Prize winning columnist Connie Schultz:
Senator Sherrod Brown and columnist Connie Schultz welcome the participants of @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/Wk0QfULKee
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014
And then President Obama welcomed the participants:
Entertainment included the LGBT cheer teams from New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Those people can fly:
Every good sports competition needs cheerleading! @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/bLg9oNXZYF
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014
Lance Bass:
Lance Bass! @GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/X4qppgViiN
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014
Alex Newell, who brought an emotional and amazing performance:
So true! "@LanaMMoore: Alex Newell brought the house down at #gg9cleveland. What amazing talent! #gg9#glaadpic.twitter.com/Kxpan5NG2t"
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014
And it finally ended with probably the best torch lighting I've seen. The torch was passed from Ohio-based LGBT leader to LGBT leader, finally ending up in the hands of out Olympic speed skater, Blake Skjellerup. Skjellerup turned to each corner of the arena, and then the jumbotron did this:
That was the coolest torch lighting I've ever seen. Nice job, @BlakeSkjellerup@GG9Clevelandpic.twitter.com/KNngTFi1LC
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014
And then everyone rocked out to the Pointer Sisters:
@GG9Cleveland crowd goes crazy for the Pointer Sisters! #GG9#GG9CLE#gaygamespic.twitter.com/rNUN8dHeuN
— Cleveland Foundation (@CleveFoundation) August 10, 2014
Then it was time to enjoy the crowd outside:
One last selfie to close out the opening ceremony of @GG9Cleveland. I love my job for @glaadpic.twitter.com/onCZtnT30d
— Ross Murray (@inlayterms) August 10, 2014