CLEVELAND, Ohio, December 16, 2008 – Enhancing its effort to bring Gay Games IX to Cleveland, Cleveland Synergy Foundation today announced an expansion of its staff and retention of a communications firm. New Development Director, Patrick Bindis, and global public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard International Communications are the newest team members of the organization’s initiative.

Mr. Bindis will focus on fundraising programming and building support with key organizations in the community. “I am very pleased to be a part of this important community and economic development initiative for Cleveland,” Bindis explained. “We have a unique opportunity to showcase Cleveland to a relatively untapped international audience and support the LGBT community.”

Fleishman-Hillard’s Cleveland office will provide public relations strategy and support to Cleveland Synergy Foundation, both locally and through its global gay and lesbian communications practice group, FH Out Front. Fleishman-Hillard was the official communications firm for Gay Games VII, held in Chicago in 2006, and provided pro bono outreach and support for the Games from more than one dozen offices worldwide.

“We are pleased to support our community and Cleveland Synergy Foundation through this collaborative effort,” stated Greg Connel, senior vice president, partner and general manager of Fleishman-Hillard Cleveland. “FH Out Front includes practitioners who combine a real passion and expertise in gay and lesbian communications with a solid record of results in promoting Gay Games VII to diverse audiences around the world.”

“Patrick and Fleishman-Hillard provide us an unparalleled advantage in our bid to host the Gay Games in Cleveland in 2014,” W. Doug Anderson, co-founder of Cleveland Synergy Foundation, commented. “We look forward to continuing to expand our base of supporters in this endeavor, both locally and around the world.”

Gay Games IX will be held in 2014 and will include more than thirty sporting and cultural events. More than 12,000 participants and tens of thousands of family, friends, fans, and spectators are anticipated to travel to the host city for the event.

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Past Gay Games have yielded a significant economic impact to host cities, with estimates ranging up to $80 million from the Chicago event. Gay Games VIII will be held in Cologne, Germany, in 2010.

About Cleveland Synergy Foundation
Cleveland Synergy Foundation is a public benefit corporation organized and operated to measurably enhance the economy, image and quality of life in the greater Cleveland LGBT and Straight communities by attracting and creating significant cultural, athletic and benevolent events and festivals. Please visit www.clevelandsynergyfoundation.org for more information.

About Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world's leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, and South Africa through its 80 owned offices.

With 20 full-time public relations and digital professionals in Cleveland and Columbus, Fleishman-Hillard Cleveland has served the global public relations agency’s local and national clients since 1999. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Contact:

Cleveland Synergy Foundation
W. Doug Anderson
216.440.7411

Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.:
Michael Murphy
216.928.3485

Good luck to you, Cleveland. I see that you are in competition with Boston, Miami and Washington DC.

Thank you! Have a great New Year! Come check out Cleveland.....

Hey Cleveland would be great for those of us in Southern Ontario. About a 5 or 6 hour drive from Toronto! And I can vouch for your airport. I had to spend about three hours there on the way home from Fort Lauderdale last weekend and I can say it was way better that the debacle that were Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte and Miami Airports - whch were the three other airports I hit on that trip.

My soccer league from when I was a teenager went down to play in a tournament each year in North Olmsted, Ohio - right near your airport and always had great fields to play on.

Good luck!

Thank you for your support. Cleveland Synergy Foundation has many exciting sports and cultural events coming in 2009..

Have a great Holiday Season!

Jeff

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Click here to read the full article in Spangle Magazine: http://www.spanglemagazine.com/index.php?o...s&Itemid=78

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I hate to rain on your parade, but I question whether or not Cleveland has a realistic shot at the 2014 FGG. I don't say this as a slight againt Cleveland, but as a rational assessment of FGG placement. The 2006 games were in Chicago. I just find it unlikely that thet FGG would go back to the midwest so soon.

My sense is that they will go to either Washington DC or Boston and, of the two, DC is the likely winner. (Personally, as a MA resident, I think Boston would be a great host. Boston is perhaps the greatest and most passionate sports city in America and is also a great spot for international gay tourists. You can hop on the fast ferry downtown and be in Provincetown in an hour and a half. Ogunquit ME is under 2 hours north. Boston is also convenient to NYers and Canadians.)

But I think the FGG will end up lured by the bright lights, big city draw of Washington DC. They'll think that since it's the seat of the US federal government, by holding the games there, they'll actually do something to advance gay rights in the US. They'd be wrong. I love DC and I think either it or Boston would be a comparably great host city -- I hope to attend, wherever the games are, but I think the government factor will lure the games to DC but that it will all be part of some false hope.

Thank you for your post.

Boston and DC are great cities. Cologne was up against Paris for the 2010 Gay Games. You would have thought the FGG would have pick Paris since it is a great LGBT destination. But, they chose Cologne.

I have read in articles that the FGG looks at the total picture, the bid package, the economic affordability of the city, and what the city has to offer the world. Not just how gay the city is. This approach would make sense. If the FGG only took into consideration cities that are large gay destinations, that would be sad. I do not believe the FGG functions that way.

Cleveland is a wonderful city! I moved here from the S.F. Bay area and find that the city is very friendly, clean, and has some of the best restaurants in the country. Cleveland sits on the shores of Lake Erie with incredable views, parks, and at theatre district 2nd only to New York.

I also find it interesting that people tend to talk down about a city they have not traveled to or have not spent much time in. With everything going on in the world today we should try to stay positive and build our communities up, not tear them down.

Again, thank you for your comments. Please keep them coming!

Jeff

Jeff, I meant nothing against Cleveland, nor do I think I said anything negative about it. I'll be the 1st to say I have never been there, so I cannot say anything against it nor for it. (But I will say of my 2 friends from Cleveland, the straight one loves it and wants to go back, the gay one moved away and wants to re-light the Cuyuhoga. LOL)

All I can go by is my belief that the FGG -- particularly with competition from the Outgames -- will want to pick a high profile location for their games. I think the mindset of the FGG selection committee will focus on someplace other than a smaller profile midwestern US city with little name recognition outside the US and Canada.

I think each of the potential host cities has its pluses and minuses and I think the overall games plan is tantamount to running a successful games. But, if we're being honest, one of the main factors upon which success is built is whether or not people (both athletes and their G/L fans) really want to go there. Aside from an efficient games, I think the FGG will consider tourist amenities, shopping, hotels, beaches and parks, hiking, museums, history, clubs, reputation, etc... the things that will lure the tourists from all over the world to that city. It's my personal belief that international notoriety will end up playing a role in a city's selection. I believe that a city with a lower profile would need to damn near walk on water to win the bid. Is that fair? Maybe not.

You mentioned Cologne. Cologne is certainly smaller than Paris, but within Europe, Cologne is a very known place for its gay-friendliness and for its cultural offerings, including one of the largest Carnaval celebrations each year. I just don't think Cleveland has a high-enough profile even within the US. I think it would be a hard sell to convince gay water polo leagues from Sydney to Stockholm to go to a place few of them have ever heard of.

I think if the FGG wants to lure non-North American participants to a US host city, it knows it needs a major major city to host. I think that leaves Cleveland out of the equation. But I also think that's why the FGG will end up pushing other candidate cities aside for DC. I think the FGG knows they are competing against Outgames/Copenhagen in 2009 and then Berlin or Cape Town or Buenos Aires in 2013, they need a location that's going to pull in 10,000 athletes and tourists along with them. I'm convinced the FGG will pick Washington DC.

That's just my opinion. I have nothing against your city, its friendliness or its amenities. I'm purely speculating about what I think the FGG is thinking in terms of strategically locating its premier event.

Hey Aquaman, thanks for your thoughts on our bid to host the games. Allow me to offer some additional information for you to contemplate. Myself (Doug) and Brian went to Cape Town, South Africa for the FGG 2008 Annual Meeting and to be straight (LOL) forward with you, many of the delegates knew more about Cleveland then I did myself. The Federation has a true desire to outreach to the entire world and one of the most important, if not the most important, consideration they have is about cost. Cleveland is by far the most reasonable place for hotels, mass transportation, airlines, venue spaces etc. When we received a letter of support not only from the Mayors of Cleveland and Akron, Senator Sherrod Brown, Congressmen Dennis Kucinich, and ultimately from Ted Strickland the Governor of the State of Ohio pledging their resources, it speaks volumes. Regarding the Outgames, my friend they have already picked Antwerp, not Cape Town, or Buenos Aires or Berlin. Cities are chosen not on their glamour or their historical significance. It's about viability, because both the FGG and The World Outgames don't want another fiasco that happen in 2006 and surely both organizations want a sound financial outcome that doesn't ultimately as past history has presented, a devastating financial loss. Lastly, as a volleyball player of 30 year, it really is important for me to play in a venue that isn't an elementary school or community recreational center, but a world class venue. So as I surmise you’re a swimmer or hard core Water Polo stud. Check out just one of our venues for swimming and water polo. http://csuvikings.cstv.com/trads/clst-facilities.html#nat Cleveland State University is one of the fastest Natatorium in the United States, so I will leave you with this thought. Miami doesn't have a natatorium at all. Barletta Natatorium in Boston only has 6 - 25 yard lanes and lastly DC has to find at least 10 million dollars to build the proposed Jefferson Natatorium. Here's a thought why don't you come as our guest and stay with us over a weekend or perhaps over our North Coast Invasion Sports Festival in April, see a little bit of volleyball or darts or billiards and take a good plunge in our Natatorium. I look forward to your response.

Doug

Your first sentence indicates that you have taken what I've said and put it through a filter which could only come out as being against your city's bid. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have never said anything negative about Cleveland or the CSF and I have most certainly never said anything about the technical aspects of your bid. (Actually, it sounds impressive.) Everything I have posted is just my opinion about where I think the FGG would want to go based on a desire to attract a large international following. I may very well be proven wrong.