It was announced today that the USA has approved a federal blanket waiver allowing non-US citizens living with HIV/AIDS to travel to the US to participate in or attend the Chicago Gay Games in July 2006.

The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and Chicago Games, Inc. (CGI) confirmed that the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival has received Designated Event Status, which allows persons travelling for the purpose of the Games to be admitted to the country for the duration of the event without being questioned about their HIV status.

urrently, HIV-positive persons are required to apply for a special visa for travel to the US.  However, HIV-positive participants and attendees need now only apply for a single entry B-2 travel visa from their local consulate.

“Many people with HIV/AIDS and other life-affecting health issues have competed and set Masters-division records at past Gay Games, and we are happy that all participants from outside the United States once again will be able to travel freely to attend the Gay Games this summer,” said Kathleen Webster, co-president of the international Federation of Gay Games.

The organisers of the Games are pleased to be able to confirm the waiver so far in advance of the July event – the notice for the New York Games in 1994 was confirmed only weeks before the Games’ start date.  Now, athletes and spectators have plenty of time to registration for and travel to, the Games.

It is anticipated that this announcement will continue to boost participation in the event, which already numbers 8 000 committed athletes.  In addition, the playing field is now levelled on the issue of HIV-positive participants.

"Achieving Designated Event Status demonstrates our dedication to the Gay Games principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™ and to our mission advocating for full acceptance and recognition of all LGBT people,” said Brian McGuinness, Gay Games Executive Director.

Information regarding procedures on how to apply for the B-2 visa at US consulates in various countries will be available shortly on the FGG website ( www.gaygames.com) and the Chicago Gay Games website ( www.gaygameschicago.org).

For additional information, please contact Aimee Pine at the Chicago Games, Inc. offices at (773) 907-2006 or by email on aimee.pine@gaygameschicago.org.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES BY FLEISHMAN-HILLARD JOHANNESBURG.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT GINA DE VILLIERS ON 011 548 2025 OR devillig@fleishman.co.za      

The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of inclusion, participation and personal best.  The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990; 7,300 participants), New York (1994; 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998; 13,000 participants), and Sydney (2002; 11,000 participants).