December 21, 2009 – Already more than 200 volunteers are highly motivated and busy preparing the biggest Sports and Culture Event in the world ! They want to make sure that more than 12.000 Athletes will have a long lasting experience. Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, 31st July until the Closing Ceremony on 7th August 2010.
The Games Head Quarter, located at Rudolfplatz in the Center of Cologne, also manages a busy daily schedule. Michael Lohaus, Co President of the Games explains that more than 150 emails a day and loads of phone calls need to be answered. However, the City of Cologne offers a huge support in staffing levels Thats why we can reply on time in a professional manner. The result is visible in registration numbers. 3.500 participants got registered for the events around Sport and Culture. They represent 39 Countrys already, including Bulgaria, Russia, Indonesia and Afghanistan.
Annette Wachter, Co President of the Games Cologne, explains that it is the political situation in those Countrys that makes us aware about the particular meaning and honour of the attandence of these men and women in Cologne.
The Games Organisation supports more than 100 participants from eastern Europe in Travel, Accomodation and Stay. Also another 350 participants from other regions are being sponsored by the Federation of Gay Games – the world union of all LGBT Sports Associations.
All the Organisers of the Sport Competions are realy happy to see the increasing number of registrations. Dagmar Ziege explains one of her main tasks is having negiotations with all associations involved on the benchmarks of the events. For checking the feasability of these events you need to know how many people to expect and how many to entertain. Also the Events and Culture Section has some events ready to go ! The Opening Party after the Opening Ceromony at Rhein Energy Stadium is already due to happen at LanxessArena !
The `Jewish Cologne` and `Animal homosexuality` guided Tours are new offers on the Agenda for `Fans and Friends`.
12.000 participant do need 12.000 medals, and 8.500 finisher medals with a weight of 4,3 tons. How much paper do we need for publishing hand outs? How many volunteers to make sure no marathoni gets lost? `Getting that much into Details is mandatory to check the feasability of these massive events` explains Christoph Gaspers – Carouge.
The Countdwon is running. Just 222 Days to go. Then we will see that is was worth all the work. In 222 Days, 12.000 participants and 34.000 visitors will celebrate the Opening Ceromony of the VIII Gay Games Cologne 2010.
More information on www.games-cologne.com
