Overview IGLA Championships

Transcription

1 The is the 26th annual meeting of International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics ( IGLA ). IGLA grew out of the sports festival known as the Gay Games. The Gay Games were first held in 1982 and then again in In May of 1987 a group of swimmers hosted the West Coast Gay Swim League Championships in San Diego to further the camaraderie and competition that they enjoyed at the Gay Games. Overview The IGLA Championships are multi-day, multi-aquatic-sport events that celebrate friendship, sportsmanship, and competition. Seattle will host the August The include swimming, water polo, diving, synchronized swimming ( synchro ), open water swimming competitions and the Pink Flamingo TM. Competition will take place at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center and in Lake Washington. Related social events and activities will take place in Seattle, beginning with the IGLA 2013 Kick-off party to be held in Seattle s Capitol Hill neighborhood on Monday. Championship competition will begin Tuesday. The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will be open to the public to watch the swimming, diving and synchro competitions as well as the water polo matches. Vendors are invited to participate in the 2013 IGLA Championship Expo. In July of that same year, in Seattle, at the Northwest Gay & Lesbian Sports Festival, International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics was officially born and the West Coast Gay Swim League Championships were retroactively named the first ever International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics Championships. The will be the second time Seattle has hosted the IGLA Championships. In 1992 the IGLA Championships were held at the newly constructed aquatic center in Federal Way, Washington. IGLA is thrilled to be returning to the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, home to the 1990 Goodwill Games, 1992 IGLA Championships, 2012 NCAA Swimming Championships and 2012 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.

2 Who Participates in IGLA Championships? Demographic Information IGLA has roughly 60 member teams in 17 countries throughout the world. Within the organization there are over 2,700 individual athletes of which 20% are women. Over the past ten years the IGLA championships have had an average of over 800 athletic participants. People between the ages of 30 and 50 make up 55% of those participants. Women make up roughly 17% of total IGLA Championship participants. Age % of Participants % % % % Athletes participating in swimming make up 74% of the total participants. Athletes participating in Water polo make up 22% of the total. Synchro participants make up 5% of participants. Diving participants make up just fewer than 2%. Some athletes participate in multiple disciplines. Attending LGBT events are key motivators for travel within the LGBT community. LGBT community spends 3 nights in a destination when traveling for an event. IGLA participation is in line with this general LGBT trend. And when members of the LGBT community travel, they tend to spend on attractions at a destination or in restaurants. Seattle is identified as a Top Ten LGBT travel destination, tied with Palm Springs, New Orleans and Miami. The top motivators for the LGBT community when selecting a destination are: To explore new destinations; Rest and relaxation; To visit family or friends; Culture; Food and wine; and Adventure travel. Seattle and the are strong in all these areas. Seattle and Washington have a number of attractions that provide opportunities to explore. There are three National Parks within hours of Seattle. Western Washington has numerous opportunities for relaxation including the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, and mountain resorts. The IGLA championships were based on the principles of friendship and many of the participants have known each other for over a decade and look forward to the fellowship and camaraderie enjoyed with their friends at the IGLA Championships. Seattle is well known for its culture in art, music, theater and opera. Seattle Opera will be presenting its

3 world renowned Ring Cycle by Wagner in August of Washington and Seattle have incredible food and dining opportunities, including the Woodinville Wineries. For the adventure travelers, Western Washington provides countless opportunities for hiking, camping, back packing, rafting and kayaking. Economics and Market Trends Economically, LGBT community makes up 10% of the U.S. Consumer market. Over 75% of LGBT household have an annual income of over $50,000. Gay men and lesbians own more homes and cars, travel more, spend more on electronics, and have the largest amount of disposable income of any niche market. Beyond the LGBT market indicators, a survey conducted by United States Masters Swimming indicate that IGLA Championship participant demographics mirror those of United States Masters Swimming. A 2011 USMS indicated that those participating in United States Master Swimming (including IGLA) had the following economic characteristics: USMS Income Distribution Under $49,999 14% $50,000-99,999 31% $100, ,999 26% $150, ,999 12% $200, ,999 6% $250, % What happens at IGLA Championships? Competition The IGLA Championships include a water polo tournament and swimming, diving and synchro competitions. The tournament or competition spans multiple days. Participants often compete in multiple events and sports. The competition is open to the public and those who attend are guaranteed a good time. The competitions culminates in a Gold Medal Water Polo game followed by the Pink Flamingo TM, a synchronized swimming performance and drag show that has been a staple of IGLA championships and the Gay Games competitions for over 20 years. Competition and participation will be encouraged through posting and updating standings, results and event videos on the IGLA 2013 webpage, youtube channel, facebook page, and twitter feed.

4 The competition schedule can be found below: Activities When members of the LGBT community travel, what they spend money on by way of activities is heavily influenced by the reputation of the activity or business for being welcoming to LGBT individuals. Additionally, the recommendations of friends have particular weight. At past IGLA championships, special parties or events associated with the IGLA Championships enjoyed 73% to 89% participation from the IGLA Championship participants. Examples of these activities include catamaran cruises, a luau, dance parties, drag performances, a pool party at a spa/resort, a beach party, whale watching tours, banquets, tours and excursions.

5 IGLA 2013 plans to partner with multiple companies, associations and organizations to provide a phenomenal Seattle and Pacific Northwest Experience for the IGLA 2013 participants. Some of the activities IGLA 2013 seeks to provide are wine tastings of Washington wines, a clam bake, a block party, museum excursions, hiking excursions, Puget Sound and lake cruises, and tours of the city and surrounding areas. Parties & Socials A key element of the IGLA championships has always been friendship. Friendships across countries and continents are fostered at the IGLA Championships through participant interaction at parties and social held in conjunction with the Championship. These have included receptions, luaus, pool parties, dance parties, hosted dinners and banquets. The are planning on nightly parties and socials held in conjunction with the Championships. These will be great opportunities for IGLA athletes to meet and enjoy the company of Seattlites. Plans include providing participating bars with video highlights of swimming, diving and water polo events from the competition taking place in Federal Way. Additionally, 2013 IGLA championships plan on engaging local performers and bands for entertainment at the IGLA Happy Hours and parties. Businesses and organizations that take advantage of these parties and socials to promote their goods and services will find that IGLA participants support those businesses and organizations that support IGLA s mission of community building through friendship, sportsmanship and competition. Facilities The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center is a legacy venue for the 1990 Seattle Goodwill Games. The first international event was a great success. During the opening day of swimming competition, three athletes bettered the existing world record in the first event of the session. Since then, over 200 National and World Record swims have been established in this very fast pool.

6 The Aquatic Center contains two natatoriums, one for competition and training and the other for recreational programs. The competition natatorium houses a diving tank with a full complement of springboard and platform levels and a 50-meter competition pool with two movable bulkheads. The recreation natatorium houses a 25-yard warm-water, zero-depth entry pool. Since the early 1990 s, the facility has maintained the most active competition schedule of any aquatic center in the country. It is the regular site of regional, national and international events and an outstanding training complex worthy of Olympic-bound athletes. It is anticipated that the open water swimming competition will be held at Mercer Island in Lake Washington. Sponsorships There are number of levels for sponsorships that will provide 2013 IGLA Championship sponsors an excellent return on their sponsorship: Trophy Circle Cup Circle Emerald Sapphire Ruby Gold Silver Bronze $10000 $7500 $5000 $1000 $750 $500 4-color 2 x4 Ad 2013 IGLA Program Book X X X BW Ad 2013 IGLA Program Book Awards Banquet Banner and Tickets X X X Banner at Awards Banquet X X X X Branded Merchandise, Logo on Worldwide Ad X X Campaign Event/Game Sponsorship Display at Registration X X X X X Facility Banners Logo Logo Logo Gift Bag at Registration Logo Logo Name

7 In Monthly Newsletter to Participants Jumbotron ads and announcement Logo on Badges and Tickets Logo on Brochures, Posters Trophy Circle Cup Circle Emerald Sapphire Ruby Gold Silver Bronze $10000 $7500 $5000 $1000 $750 $500 Logo Logo Logo Logo & X Logo & Logo & Logo Logo Logo Logo Logo Logo Name Name Name Logo on Shirt Logo Logo Name Medal Presenter Logo IGLA 2013 Program X X X Book Merchandise Giveaways Official Partner Status X X Press Release Mention X X Promos at Pre-IGLA Logo, Logo & Parties (6) & Video Ad Logo Banner at Registration Party X X X Right to Use logo in Own Ads X X X X X Thank You Ad For Sponsor Video Ad placement X X X Website Banner and Ad Links X X X Website Lead Banner X Website listing X X X X X VIP Thank You Reception X Social Network Tagging QR Coding X X X

8 Marketing Plan Sponsors of the will be incorporated into the IGLA marketing plan. IGLA 2013 will follow established guidelines and protocols of sponsoring companies to ensure the integrity of the brand and trademarks are maintained. The 2013 IGLA Championship marketing plan includes several campaigns that focus on the sporting and social events related to the ; General information about the Championships and Seattle and the surrounding areas, Activities for participants outside the pool, and cultural and social references targeted to the LGBT community and the Pacific Northwest. It is anticipated that digital and print media will be used extensively. IGLA 2013 plans to use internal proprietary databases, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to connect with the LGBT market, which, as noted above, is more likely to seek information in these formats. These formats will be used as primary conduits because IGLA has developed a database of past IGLA participants and teams that provide the most direct contact with its target audience. Additionally, print media will be used within the Seattle and Puget Sound area to market the competition and the social events to interested members of the Seattle area. Print media will be selected based upon reader demographics where the events and social opportunities are most likely to generate positive response and participation. Merchandise The will provide merchandise for purchase and these will provide opportunities for sponsors to have their name printed on 2013 IGLA Championship merchandise. The has worked with Seattle custom designer Danial Webster to create custom, designer swim suits. T-shirts will also be sold to participants with sponsors logos and names. Additional merchandise opportunities may be available.

9 CONTACT Interested parties can the following addresses for more information: Jason Stone Co-Chair, Steven Potokar 2013 IGLA Championship Development Committee Rebecca Mitchell 2013 IGLA Championship Development Committee Marvel Shoen 2013 IGLA Championship Development Committee Visit the event website at. Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Be our Plus 1 on Google+: