Fridae

Federation of Gay Games officials finished their inspection of Hong Kong venues last week as part of their evaluation of the city as a possible host for the 2022 Gay Games.

They visited sporting and cultural venues and met officials, lawmakers and members of the business community, including executive councillor Anna Wu Hung-yuk, equalities chief Alfred Chan Cheung-ming, and youth leader Lau Ming-wai, reported the South China Morning Post.

“What we’ve seen in the last four days is the passion of the bid team,” federation site inspector David Killian told the SCMP. “Normally, it’s [the winning host] based on the venues, the capacity of the bid team to host the games, as well as the passion of the bid team. That is very important.”

An organization called the Family School SODO Concern Group, however, attempted to disrupt the evaluators’ tour by protesting their party with the bid committee.

Roger Wong, the group’s leader told the SCMP, “It is not appropriate for Hong Kong to host. This is against the will of Hong Kong people. It is a gay parade disguised in a format of games, which I think is not honest with people.”

According to the group’s Facebook page, protestors clashed with the gay games bid team outside of the welcoming party. Someone allegedly ripped a sign from a  protestors hand that read “Gay Games is only to seek validation for the LGBTQ culture.”

Hong Kong’s bid team will head to Paris, host of the 2018 games, in the autumn to make its last pitch in front of the federation’s delegates, where the winning bidder will be revealed.