Cleveland: City could help bankroll bid for Gay Games

CLEVELAND -- Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland City Council are making a $700,000 grant available to the Cleveland Sports Authority to help pursue a bid for the 2014 Gay Games.

Council is just returning from summer recess and this was one of the first measures it considered.

The money would help defray the costs of holding the games here and would not be spent unless Cleveland is the winning bidder.

The city is one of three finalists for the 2014 Gay Games. Boston and Washington D.C. are the other contenders.

It's projected the event could bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to Northeast Ohio.

Tuesday night, Mayor Frank Jackson with many political and business leaders held a send off rally for the representatives traveling to Germany in hopes of bringing back news that Cleveland will host the 2014 Gay Games.

The winner will be chosen September 29 after presentations are made to the deciding panel in Cologne, Germany.