Mayor Backs Cape Town Bid to Host Gay Games in 2030

Cape Town is one of seven cities – and the only one on the African continent – in the running to host the international 2030 Gay Games.

This past weekend, a delegation of Capetonians officially presented the Mother City’s bid in Washington DC to host the 13th edition of the event.

According to Gay Games Cape Town 2030 Bid Committee publicist Leonie Mollentze, Sunday’s presentation was “hugely successful” and Team Cape Town received a standing ovation.

The Gay Games is the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ sports and culture event, launched in 1982 and hosted once every four years in a different location around the world.

The top 10 candidate cities were required to submit a formal bid in August. Since then, Cape Town has progressed to one of the top seven cities in contention. The other cities bidding to host the Gay Games in 2030 are Denver (USA), Auckland (New Zealand), Edmonton (Canada), Melbourne (Australia), Perth (Australia) and Taipei (Taiwan).

Africa and South America are yet to host this event that celebrates diversity, participation, inclusion and personal best within the global LGBTQIA+ community.

Not Only a Sporting Event

The Gay Games Cape Town 2030 Bid Committee comprises a team of prominent LGBTQIA+ changemakers, including the legendary Sheryl Ozinsky – the person behind some of Cape Town’s most prominent attractions, MCQP founder Andre Vorster, Olympian Leigh-Ann Naidoo and activist Ndumie Funda.

“The Games hosts well over 10,000 LGBTQIA+ participants – from novice to elite level – who compete in over 30 sporting events over the course of 10 days,” explains well-known Capetonian Ian McMahon, who has been on a mission to bring the event to the Mother City for over a decade, and is supporting the bid team for the 2030 Gay Games.

“Athletes across the sexual orientation and gender identity spectrum are welcome to participate, making it one of the most inclusive mass-participation sporting events in the world,” he says.

In addition to the sports programme, the Gay Games also features a cultural programme that includes theatre, choral and music performances, art exhibitions, remembrance ceremonies and more.

Cape Town Ready to Host the Gay Games

“Cape Town is perfectly placed to host the Gay Games in 2030,” asserts David Ryan, Co-chair of the Games Cape Town 2030 Bid Committee.

“While the Mother City is world-renowned among the global LGBTQIA+ community as the Gay Capital of Africa, we also see this bid to host the Gay Games as a platform to start conversations and reshape the narrative around what it means to be queer in Africa. We want to do more than just host a 10-day event with a 10-day impact; the Gay Games will be just the start of our mission to promote acceptance and leave a legacy of lasting change in Cape Town, South Africa and Africa.”

Event specialists WorldSport South Africa have been appointed to oversee the hands-on operational requirements of the event, and have curated a programme that includes 34 sporting and 12 cultural events as part of the bid.

“We are laser-focused on bringing the Gay Games to Cape Town and showing the world once again why the Mother City is considered the sports and events capital of the world,” says Bruce Parker-Forsyth. “Our team comprises event professionals who are experts in their respective fields, and passionate about the opportunity to stage an event that is as much about sport as it is about passion, heart and inclusion.”

Backing of Cape Town Mayor

Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has also added his support to the bid, promising the City’s full backing should Cape Town’s bid be successful.

“South Africa is a beacon of diversity and inclusion, with one of the most progressive constitutions upholding human rights. In Cape Town, you can proudly be who you are – living authentically, and protected against discrimination and exclusion based on religious beliefs, gender identity or sexual orientation.

“With our reputation of investing in safety and history of hosting some of the most prominent events, Cape Town will make a great host city. I encourage everyone to Vote Cape Town so we can bring the Gay Games to Africa,” says Hill-Lewis.

The shortlisted cities are expected to be announced in December, and the announcement of the 2030 host city will be made late 2025.