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The Cleveland Synergy Foundation folks are making it very hard not to believe that six days from today, the 2014 Gay Games will be coming to Northeast Ohio.
Several hundred supporters crammed into Twist Tuesday evening for what was billed as a pep rally and send-off party for the 20 local delegates who will travel to Cologne, Germany, on Thursday for a final sales pitch to the Federation of Gay Games. And next Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 1:30 p.m., we’ll all know if Cleveland has beat out other finalists Boston and Washington, D.C.
A cavalcade of queer-supporting politicians took the stage last night to rally the troops, including Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and City Councilmen Jay Westbrook and Joe Cimperman. Plus, Northeast Ohio’s first out, lesbian councilwoman, Nickie Antonio of Lakewood, offered her praise of the efforts.
As cameras from channels 3, 5 and 8 rolled, boosters earned huge cheers with their dream pull-quotes.
From Synergy Council President Michael Readinger: “We'll show the federation that Cleveland will host THE very best Gay Games ever!”
 From Antonio: “If we don’t work together to make these things happen, to change hearts and minds, they’ll never happen!”
From Cimperman: “Good evening to the fellow citizens of the home of the 2014 Gay Games!”
And from Positively Cleveland President Dennis Roche: “These games will not rock in Boston. These games could never rock in Washington, D.C. You want these games to rock, you bring them to the rock!”
Bookending the speeches, I managed to catch up with some of the VIPs to find out what’s going to put Cleveland over the top next week.
Synergy founder Doug Anderson told me the Cleveland team will arrive at Cologne with more than $4 million in funding commitments, basically covering the bid’s needs for corporate sponsorship for the next five years. (He promised an additional sponsor will be announced as early as later today.)
Joining Anderson in Cologne will be 19 other people, including 11 who will actually speak to the Federation of Gay Games board. Among the delegation will be some from the mayor’s staff: Valarie McCall, the chief of government affairs; and Kevin Schmotzer, director of small business economic development.
 Anderson, who was visibly choked up during a portion of his speech, told me seeing the overwhelming community support always takes his breath away. “I promised an inordinate amount of people I wouldn’t ‘let go’ until they decide and the games are ours,” he said. So look for some serious tears (hopefully of joy) on Tuesday.
He told me the key to Cleveland’s 45-minute presentation is a video from public-relations firm Fleishman-Hillard that “is visually stunning, that gets to the core of who we are as Clevelanders.” The message? “It’s about creating change. It’s just phenomenal.”
The closer in Cologne? That will be Councilman Joe Cimperman, who previewed part of his speech last night. He framed the Gay Games bid as the driving force that will bring a massive transformation toward equality for both Cleveland and Ohio.
“If the Gay Games come to Cleveland, it will be the unstoppable force for Ohio,” he said, predicting passage of a Cleveland transgender discrimination ordinance by the end of the year, followed by domestic partnership benefits for city employees in the first quarter of next year. His future agenda includes changing the current gay discrimination bill from one that has criminal punishments to one that allows civil cases.
 “We’re going to have more people vote with us on transgender [protections] than on domestic partner [registry],” he said. “And we’re going to have more people vote with us on domestic partner benefits than on transgender.”
His theme for Cologne: Framing Cleveland as an immigrant town that has a history of open arms. “Let us close the door at last on people who say the LGBT community isn’t welcome.”
The biggest politico in the room last night was Mayor Frank Jackson, who’s expected to easily sweep into a new four-year term in November. He summed up the meaning of landing the Gay Games with this simple refrain: “Cleveland is a welcoming city.”
He pointed to the queer-positive legislative changes already passed (and likely soon to pass), the city’s financial support and the two staff members he’s sending to Cologne to lobby for the games as demonstrating how behind the effort Cleveland officially is.
And it’s for good reason. “This is important to the city,” Jackson said. “This is important to the community.”
Why? “There’s no way you could pay for the publicity that will come out of this.” Publicity, he added, that will show Cleveland is a safe city with arms open for all.
But what about money, I asked. These are tough economic times — can Cleveland afford the $700,000 in cash and $1.3 million of in-kind donations promised to support the Gay Games?
“We’ll make it work,” he said. “I’m not about to talk myself out of it.” Previous Gay Games coverage: Council Says Gay Games Worth $700k
The Gay Games Bid: What the Selectors Saw
First Look: Frivolity Lives Up To Its Name
The Gay Games Bids: Gold, Silver or Bronze Catching Up With Our Gay Games Bidders 
The Details
The Gay Games Site Selection
Tuesday, Sept. 29
1:30 p.m.
Watch the selection in Cologne live beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Twist Social Club (11633 Clifton Blvd.).
If you're trapped at your desk, tune in here at Spangle or our Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/spanglemagazine) and we'll let you know the winner as soon as the details are released.
And party with Cleveland’s delegation at a welcome-back party Oct. 4 at Bounce (2814 Detroit Ave.). Details to come.
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