Denver The Only US City Named As Finalist To Host 2030 Gay Games

If you've spent a long time in the State of Colorado, you might remember that Denver was once selected to host the Winter Olympics, all the way back in the year 1970. The city was set to host the Winter Games in 1976, after being awarded the selection before then Governor Dick Lamm decided to tell them "thanks, but no thanks."

The voters and local government for the city of Denver at the time were not interested in footing the bill for the necessary costs to host the international competition, and decided against it. To this day, the City of Denver is the only city chosen by the Olympic Committee to turn down an opportunity to host.

But this is 2024, and there's a new bid on the table for the City and County of Denver, and the State of Colorado.

Originally launched as the 'Gay Olympics' back in 1982 in the City of San Francisco, what is now known as the 'Gay Games" has selected Denver as a finalist to host the worldwide sport and cultural event in the year 2030.

Denver, along with Auckland, New Zealand and Perth, Australia have been named the three finalists for the selection, with Denver being the only city in the United States. The games were held in Paris in 2018 and split between Hong Kong and Guadalajara, Mexico in 2023, with the games set to be held in Valencia, Spain in 2026.

If selected by the committee, Denver will be host to the 10 day event that promotes acceptance of sexual diversity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes, artists and more competing in the summer of 2030.