Federation of Gay Games Elects New Co-President

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Observer Update) - Kurt Dahl, one of the lead organizers of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, has been elected co-president of the international Federation of Gay Games. Dahl was elected by the Board to complete the two-year term of the former co-president who stepped down to take a leadership role in the Washington, DC, bid to host the 2014 Gay Games. Dahl was the FGG vice president of host relations and will continue to chair the Host Relations Committee as co-president.

The FGG is the international governing body that oversees the Gay Games, a sports and cultural festival taking place every four years with almost 12,000 participants and 100,000 spectators. First held in 1982 in San Francisco, the 8th Gay Games will take place July 31 to August 7, 2010, in Cologne, Germany. The other member of the FGG’s co-gender presidency is Emy Ritt of Paris, France.

Dahl is currently a Vice President and Senior Manager in the Operational Risk Management division of Harris Bank NA. A 30-year banking industry veteran, he has worked at Harris Bank since 1995. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance, both from DePaul University. A CPA, he is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society.

Dahl was the co-founder of Lion’s Pride, the Harris Bank lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employee group. He is a past member of the finance committee for Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, a national organization supporting equal rights and opportunities in the workplace.

“The 2006 Gay Games in Chicago was a life changing experience for me, my partner and my family,” said Dahl. “I watched how the Chicago area was also transformed for the better. I’m honored to be able to bring my background and experience to the FGG and hope to foster synergy, collaboration and continuity between the FGG and the 2010 Gay Games organizers in Cologne.”

As treasurer and finance committee co-chair of the 2006 Gay Games, Dahl was part of the team that produced the first financially successful Gay Games since 1986. He led the team that managed a cash and in-kind budget of almost $23 million for an event that contributed an estimated $50 to $80 million to the Chicago area economy.

Dahl resides in Joliet with his partner of sixteen years, Jeff Clark. He has two children, Andrew (22) and Ashley (18). He is a member of the Chicago Smelts swim team and US Masters Swimming.