Denver selected for 2015 North American Out Games

LGBT athletes from around the world will descend on Denver in about four years when the Mile High City plays host for the 2015 North American Out Games.

It may or may not come as a shock — Denver was the only city to be named a finalist in the search process — but at the end of the day, it is official.

“We could not be more excited or honored,” said Team Colorado’s R. Tony Smith in a press release. “This is a win for Denver, Colorado and the United States, and all I can say is, ‘Let’s Go Denver!’”

Team Colorado, an umbrella organization for all of the LGBT sports organizations, wrote the bid.

The official ceremony celebrating Denver as the next host city will take place Sunday, July 30, at the closing ceremonies of the 2011 North America Out Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Denver Out Games 2015 bid committee will attend the Vancouver Out Games and also the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival July 31, 2011.

“This is the time for Denver, and it was most evident with the ease of how much support we received from everyone here in Colorado: sport, culture, human rights and government entities, as well as elected officials,” co-chair of the committee Sonya J. Lewis said. ”Our bid committee worked hard, and this feels amazing!”

The next steps for the DOBC include the logistical and legal evolution from Denver’s “bid committee” to “organizing committee”, as well as pending GLISA licensing discussions.