After two years of promotion for what was supposed to be the biggest, flashiest, gayest presence at the Olympics, organizers have canceled Pride House for the London Games, according to Pink News. While the idea was big, sponsors and funding were nowhere to be found. Unfortunately for the event, it's tough to find big American companies who will pay top dollar for a presence across the Atlantic, and many other companies have already invested their resources in Olympic participation.
Some form of Pride House may exist, as organizer Chad Molleken holds out hope for a smaller effort that needs less funding:
After two years of promotion for what was supposed to be the biggest, flashiest, gayest presence at the Olympics, organizers have canceled Pride House for the London Games, according to Pink News. While the idea was big, sponsors and funding were nowhere to be found. Unfortunately for the event, it’s tough to find big American companies who will pay top dollar for a presence across the Atlantic, and many other companies have already invested their resources in Olympic participation.
Some form of Pride House may exist, as organizer Chad Molleken holds out hope for a smaller effort that needs less funding:
It is with huge disappointment that due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to withdraw the license application for the Pride House Festival on Clapham Common. We would like to thank Lambeth Council, local businesses and the residents who have continued to support the project. We are currently exploring other options to ensure that Pride House is featured among the line up of proposed Olympic Houses in London this summer.
Pride House was started at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Some were hoping it was the beginning of something huge, but with this news, and news of Russia’s ban on Pride House at the 2014 Olympics, it simply may have to wait.
We’re sorry to see this and hope some LGBT presence is able to exist at the Games!
PHOTO: General view of the Olympic rings tattoo on the right shoulder of decathlete Trey Hardee (USA) during the morning session of Day 1 of the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics at Daegu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
