South Africa could be the first African country to host 'Gay Olympics'

Cape Town, South Africa is in the race to host the 11th Gay Games in 2022 against ten other cities including Hong Kong, Tel Aviv and Los Angeles.

The Federation of Gay Games announced on Friday that the second most populous urban area in South Africa has submitted Letters of Intent and the respective fees for the 2022 Gay Games XI bidding process.

“The impact that the Gay Games has in host cities is incredible in terms of culture, sport, economic impact, history and most importantly furthering all matters of LGBT+ equality,” site selection official, David Killian said.

Federation of #GayGames Announces Cities Continuing 2022 Gay Games XI Bid Process #lgbt https://t.co/mBgV19b4R1

— Gay Games (@GayGames) July 1, 2016

The Gay Games which started since 1982 in San Francisco, USA, is held every four years bringing together LGBT athletes, artists and activists from around the world to participate in over 36 sports and culture events. Paris will host the event in 2018.

We are waiting for you in the village at #eurogameshel for your registration for next GayGames in #Paris2018 pic.twitter.com/vcbBZ4WTDH

— Paris 2018 (ParisGames2018) June 30, 2016

Cape Town is likely to be announced as the 2022 Gay Games host in January 2018 if it completes all the necessary requirements and subsequently confirmed by votes.

South Africa boasts of being the first country in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation when it introduced its new Constitution in 1996.

In 2015, South Africa launched its first gay rugby club to be part of competitions organised for the country’s most populous sport.

LGBT rights in Africa is limited as homosexuality is banned in 34 out of the 55 African countries.

Homosexuality is punishable by death In Sudan, southern Somalia and northern Nigeria while in Uganda, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone, offenders can receive life imprisonment for homosexual acts.