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(Chicago) A light breeze wafted over the crowd Saturday night at Soldier Field briefly breaking a hot humid night that marked the Opening Ceremonies of the seventh Gay Games.
In the stands, tens of thousands of people cheering some 12,000 LGBT athletes from around the world as they marched into the stadium.
Over the next week these athletes from 70 countries will be competing in events ranging from body building to swimming and diving to dancing.
The gay games anthem was sung by gay former NFL player Esera Tavai Tuaolo. Another fromer NFLer, Dave Kopay administered the gay games oath to the athletes, and former major league baseball player Billy Bean administered the oath to the officials.
On stage was a who's who of gay and gay friendly entertainers - Erasure's Andy Bell, Margaret Cho, Frankie Knuckles, Jody Watley, Megan Mullally, Heather Small and Kate Clinton.
The performance featured over 1,400 dancers, acrobats and musicians and ended with spectacular fireworks.
In introducing Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Megan Mullally noted that Daley "doesn't bat for the team but he bats for gay rights."
The Games mean big business for the Windy City. An estimated $50 - $80 million will be spent in Chicago during the course of the events.
Banners promoting the games are hanging on streets all over Chicago. They feature a games logo and the official slogan: "Participation, Inclusion & Personal Best".
But tickets for most competitions are going fast and some events already are sold out including diving and the aquatic show.
But the games have not been without their critics. Two conservative Christian groups pushing for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage said they intend to demonstrate against homosexuality at the games.
A national organization that regularly fights LGBT issues, the American Family Association, urged its supporters to complain to Kraft Foods for its sponsorship of the games.
The AFA action had little effect. Kraft refused to back down and a number of other major national companies followed it as sponsors.
The Gay Games will end on July 22 with the Closing Ceremony at Wrigley Field. On tap to perform will be Cyndi Lauper, Ari Gold, Kristine W, ANT, Sharon McNight, Levi Kreis and, Jason & deMarco.
A week later The first Outgames will begin in Montreal.
©365Gay.com 2006
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