Gay Games 9 resources

Track-and-Field.clipular-270x109San Francisco Track and Field Club (SFTFC) has sent its athletes to all eight Gay Games in the past, and we hope to send a strong contingent to Gay Games 9 in Cleveland + Akron. In order to facilitate communication and reduce confusion, we are dedicating this page for our members and supporters who are interested in participating in Gay Games 9. We hope this page serves as useful resources for your planning.

What to bring with you

Those who are not used to traveling for competition may find this list helpful

  • Uniform, shoes and spikes (ideally, you pack them in your carry-on bag and not in the bag you check with airline)
  • Red team polo shirt and black shorts for the Opening Ceremony. There are no team black shorts, so you can bring your own black shorts.
  • Copy of GG9 registration/invoice (you should have received via email) and hotel reservation
  • SFTFC gear – Purchase it at SFT&FC Cafepress website
  • Items for recovery – foam roller, massage bar, compression tights/socks, asprins, etc.
  • Electrolyte tablets, such as Nuun
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses (team will have a tent on site)

Opening ceremony schedule

Opening ceremony for the Gay Games 9 will be held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, Aug 9. Please be aware of the schedule below, so we can march together as a team. Please stay in touch so that you will receive information as to when/where to meet for the opening ceremony. We will march in the red polo shirt, but otherwise please dress comfortably.

4:00 p.m. SFT&FC members meet at Marriott Downtown lobby to walk to Progressive Field together.
4:30 p.m. Pre-Ceremony Participant Staging Party, Progressive Field
5:45 p.m. All Parade participants must be at Progressive Field
6:00 p.m. Parade staging/preparation
7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony start, Quicken Loans Arena
7:00 p.m. Parade of Participants start, Progressive Field
10:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony ends

An individualized badge credential is necessary to gain entry to Progressive Field, the pre-Parade party and staging zone for the Opening Ceremony. There will be credential pickup desk at the Opening Ceremony for those who are arriving late. But we suggest you pick up your credential before you go to the Opening Ceremony. Location and hours of registration can be found at GG9 event schedule page.

Please be advised that no backpack or other bags will be allowed in Quicken Loans Arena, and there will be no bag check, either. Please leave all personal belongings at your hotel room.

For more details about the opening ceremony, see/download participant instructions.

Hotels

In an effort to reduce the amount of times we would have to travel to and from Cleveland and Akron, we are staying at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center for the Opening Ceremonies and events from August 8th – 10th, and the Akron City Center Hotel from August 11th – 16th while we’re competing. Here is a link to the list of members who are interested in the these hotels.

If you do not have a hotel reservation, visit Gay Games lodging website for reservation.

Transportation

From Cleveland Airport:

There is a train that will take you from the Cleveland Airport to the downtown train station under the Radisson Hotel, which is one of the main Gay Games host hotels. The train ride is about 30 minutes and costs $2.00.
The other option is a taxi ride, which will cost about $45.00- $54.00. It’s about a 45-minute drive from the airport.

Traveling Around Cleveland:

The Gay Games will give participants public transit passes to use to travel to/from the sports venues. There might be a shuttle van as well.

Traveling from Cleveland to Akron:

There will be a shuttle that will take participants from a pick up site in Cleveland to the main bus station in Akron.

Traveling Around Akron:

There will be a shuttle that will pick up the participants at the Akron bus station, and will drop them out at the sports venues.

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