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Federation of Gay Games

Located by Erick Bell, January 7, 2003.

See:

Federation of Gay Games emblem and flag

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Federation of Gay Games emblem and flag

I have unearthed the flag and logo of the Federation of Gay Games.
The games were started by Dr. Tom Waddell in 1982. The Federation of Gay Games was created in 1989 to replace San Francisco Arts and Athletics as the Gay Games governing body. The flag, which doubles as the ceremonial flag of the games, consists of the Federation logo of three interlocking circles in blue on a white field. The three circles signify participation, inclusion, and personal best. The flag is presented by the mayor of the host city to the mayor of the next host city during the closing ceremonies. I've attached a graphic of the flag.

Erick Bell, January 7, 2003.

The three circles are in fact the letters G - O - G superimposed over one another so as to make the design symmetrical. The attributes participation, inclusion, and personal best were added later, after the design had been chosen. Dr Wadell's intention was to call these games the Gay Olympic Games, and that was the working name of the organization until the USOC with the backing of the IOC objected and threatened law suits for infringement on the use of the word "Olympic" over which they claim dominion and control as a result of the Amateur Sports Act.

Dr. Wadell, acceded to the demands of the Olympic community, but cleverly, did not change the logo or the design of the flag. The original flags were made by the now defunct Paramount Flag Co. of san Francisco, who supplied the flags for the Gay Games held in that city.

Jim Ferrigan, January 9, 2003.