DHL Trade Fairs & Events is the exclusive logistics sponsor for the VIII Gay Games 2010 in Cologne, a festival of sport and culture that is expected to draw around 12,000 participants from over 70 countries.
DHL Trade Fairs & Events is the exclusive logistics partner for this year’s Gay Games, which take place from July 31 to August 7, 2010, in Cologne. The service package includes return transport, customs clearance, and the storage of all materials required on site. As well as office furniture and medals, the package also includes the contents of around 15,000 “welcome packs,” which will be given out to the athletes and volunteers.
“We are also organizing the touring exhibition, ‘Against the rules – gays and lesbians in sport’, an acceptance campaign about discrimination, anxieties and opportunities,” explained Michael Götz-Pijl, Project Manager at DHL Trade Fairs & Events. “For this, we are not only transporting exhibits and materials from the U.S. and Berlin to Cologne and back again, but also assembling and dismantling the exhibition on site.”
“With the logistics for the Gay Games, we are sponsoring a major sporting event for the first time under our new name DHL Trade Fairs & Events,” continued Götz-Pijl. Following a rebranding, the Danzas Messen division has been operating under the name DHL Trade Fairs & Events since August 2009 – to bring the Specialties unit under the DHL brand. “The DHL logo therefore appears on the Games’ banners, tickets and official website. So partnering with the games is a great advertising opportunity!”
At the Gay Games, everybody can compete with each other in a sports competition, regardless of their physical ability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion. Since they were first held in 1982 in San Francisco, the Gay Games have been organized every four years in a different city in the world. The last Games were held in 2006 in Chicago.
Athletes at the Games always represent their city rather than their country.
Founded by American decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell, the Gay Games are designed to promote acceptance and humanity within our society. He saw this competition as an opportunity for gays and transsexuals to prove their ability, and to promote greater understanding towards people of different sexual orientations.
A prominent patron of the Gay Games in Germany is Secretary of State Guido Westerwelle, who will also be at the opening ceremony in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena.
The Gay Games in Cologne are currently on the lookout for volunteers and private accommodation for participants. Anyone interested should get in touch with Jürgen Driftmeier, Corporate Culture department, who is in contact with the organizers.
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