FGG Selects Three Site Inspectors for Upcoming Site Inspection Tour of Gay Games XIII 2030 Prospective Cities
The three chosen site inspectors are (left to right) Julie Williams, Rob Smitherman, and Sarah Townsend
In July 2025, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) will conduct two four-day site inspections in both of the finalist cities - Denver, USA and Perth, Australia - as part of the selection process to host Gay Games XIII in 2030. The visits will include facility tours, meetings with local stakeholders, and cultural immersion.
A team of three expert site inspectors - Julie Williams, Rob Smitherman, and Sarah Townsend - will lead the evaluation. Each inspector brings extensive experience from previous Gay Games events, and board positions within the FGG and other LGBTQ+ sport and culture organizations.
In July 2025 the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) will undertake a site inspection tour of the two finalist bid cities - Denver, USA and Perth, Australia - vying to host Gay Games XIII in 2030, to see first hand how the bid teams plan to host the Games in their city.
The inspection will take place in July 2025, and take the form of a 4-day visit to each city, hosted by the bid team, and will include a detailed analysis of the bid book, visits to the facilities and sites where the Games will be held and meetings with bid team leadership and community stakeholders.. Each bid team will also help the inspectors understand local context and culture and how it supports their bid proposal.
The visit will be undertaken by three site inspectors, hand-selected by the FGG from outside of the Federation, but with a deep understanding of the history of the Games, and with specific sport and culture knowledge. This will allow our site inspectors to prepare a detailed view of the bid from the ground, which will then be shared with the FGG General Assembly.
Julie Williams has been a dedicated Gay Games participant since 1994, attending eight consecutive editions and earning her first medal in Guadalajara in 2023. With prior experience as a site inspector for the 2022 bid and as a former FGG board member, she brings valuable insight to the GGXIII 2030 site selection team. A strong advocate for inclusion and equity, Julie co-founded Melbourne Rainbow Golfers and has long contributed to LGBTIQ+ sports and cultural initiatives.
“I sincerely thank the FGG for providing me with another opportunity to be a site inspector – this time for GGXIII 2030. I am lucky enough to have been to every Gay Games since New York in 1994. These experiences have been a fantastic way to explore new cities in a safe and inclusive environment, whilst experiencing the local arts, culture, hospitality – and participating in team and individual sports. I look forward to visiting the finalist cities with the rest of the site inspection team – and finding our host for GGXIII 2030.”
Rob Smitherman has been deeply involved with the Gay Games for over 25 years, beginning with his life-changing experience competing in basketball at the 1998 Amsterdam Games. He has since participated in every edition, playing basketball in seven Games and tennis in Guadalajara, while also playing key roles in organizing efforts—managing sports in Chicago, producing the Cologne Games, and serving as COO and Assistant Executive Director for Gay Games 9 in Cleveland-Akron. He has continued his commitment through service on the Gay Games Steering Committee for Paris, Hong Kong, and Guadalajara.
“I am honored and excited to be selected as part of the Site Inspection team for the 2030 Gay Games. I hope that I will be able to use my past experience to fulfill the duties in this essential part of the site selection process.”
Sarah Townsend is a dedicated advocate for inclusion and gender equality in sport, with a strong record of leadership, activism, and research. From 2016 to 2024, she served on the board of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation, including as Co-President, and was appointed to the European Commission’s High-Level Group on Gender Equality in Sport. She is currently Vice Chair of the ENGSO Equality Within Sport Committee, a member of the Feminist Sports Lab, and President of Activ’Elles, a grassroots organization supporting women in sport, particularly in rural communities. Drawing on her experience as a hiking guide, rowing coach, and ice-water swimmer, Sarah champions equitable access and participation at all levels of sport.
“I'm absolutely thrilled to accept the role of Site Inspector for GGXIII 2030. It's a privilege to support the Federation of Gay Games in this important process and to contribute to an initiative that brings the global LGBTQI+ sports community together. I still vividly remember the emotion and sense of belonging I felt at my first Games in Amsterdam, and I’m proud to be part of the movement that ensures others can experience that same feeling. In today’s socio-political climate—where LGBTQI+ rights are increasingly under threat—events like the Gay Games are about so much more than sport. They’re about creating space, offering community, and affirming that sport is a fundamental human right that must remain open and accessible to all.”
The site inspectors will be accompanied by two members of the FGG board of directors
Austin Manning - Officer of Site Inspection
Duncan Campbell - Officer of Communications
The tour will be shared on the FGG social media accounts during the month of July and a summary of findings will be shared during the FGG AGA in October 2025.