Oak Park-River Forest High School and the Park District of Oak Park have agreed to host events for the 2006 Gay Games—if the village is named as a site for the event.
Soccer will be played at both the high school and at Barrie Park, Oak Park Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau President and CEO Rich Carollo told The Pioneer Press. The high school will also host badminton and tennis, if selected by Gay Games organizers.
Operations Assistant Superintendent Jack Lanenga said that the games would be played at the school the week of July 15-22, right after most of the summer camps end.
Lanenga added that there are some issues to work out regarding the soccer fields because of evening football and soccer events, but the school will work out any kinks.
Finals for soccer will likely still be held at the University of Illinois at Chicago on their grass-turf field.
GGVII now has more than 150 sponsors from around the world, including recent signings of Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund as a national non-profit partner, and local groups including Center on Halsted and AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
For details about the 30 sports and additional core cultural elements for Gay Games VII, see www.gaygameschicago.org.