VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

10.000 people came to the closing ceremony of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 on Saturday evening to the Tanzbrunnen Cologne. The participants from 70 nations walked through the cheering crowd, celebrating happily. They were accompanied by the Pink Poms from Cologne and the cheerleaders from San Francisco, who once again demonstrated their amazing skills. The show was presented by Michael Klein and an ambassador of the Gay Games, Bernie Blanks from New York.

 

 

 

After an emotional speech to the guests from Vice Mayor Elfi Sho-Antwerpes, in which she thanked all participants for coming to Cologne, the flame was extinguished and the flag of the Federation of Gay Games was handed over to the hosts of the Gay Games IX Cleveland 2014.

 

 

To the sound of “Du bes die Stadt (you are the city)” numerous people from Cologne among the visitors joined and sang the song aloud. Some of the participants even had tears in their eyes. Everyone was a winner - especially the Kölner AIDS-Hilfe for whom Chears San Francisco and the Pink Poms from Cologne collected 3000 Euros during the evening.

After a week full of sport and emotions, the closing ceremony was the grand finale of the Games. In front of an impressive scene with a view to the Cathedral the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 came to an end – but the spirit of the Gay Games in Cologne will stay in the heart for a long time.