Earlier this year it was announced that London has been shortlisted to host the Gay Games 2018, alongside Paris and Limerick, and the organisers, Sport London, are hoping this will help put the Games on the map.
Craig Jones, project manager at London 2018, said: "It’s a huge event, but it’s relatively under the radar at the moment – hopefully if it comes to London that will change."
The Gay Games have been running since 1982 and are held around the world, inviting participants of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to take part in sporting events.
In 2010 the Cologne Gay Games welcomed around 10,000 participants but Jones hopes that if London is to win the bid, the 2018 Games will be far bigger.
"We think London would be more on a par with the 2002 Sydney Games, and would be expecting between 14 and 15,000 participants," said Jones.
"We already have the infrastructure there from the Olympics and some amazing venues, then there is the natural diversity in London – it’s a huge melting pot of cultures."
The final decision on the chosen host city is expected at the beginning of October following presentations from all three cities to the Federation of Gay Games.
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