Exhibition - Gay Games 1998

Collecting the City is an exhibition series in which the Amsterdam Museum, in collaboration with various communities and organizations, “collects” and presents the vibrant city of Amsterdam. Each edition consists of a few mini-expos that together form a single exhibition.

In this third edition we include a small exposition about the Gay Games, which were held in Amsterdam in 1998.

--

Gay Games in Amsterdam

The Gay Games is a sporting and cultural event held every four years for people from the LGBTIQ+ community, where everyone is welcome to participate. The concept originated in San Francisco in the 1980s. Following editions in San Francisco (1982 and 1986), Vancouver (1990), and New York (1994), it was Amsterdam’s turn to host the fifth edition.During the Gay Games in August 1998, LGBTIQ+ persons from around the world became the majority in Amsterdam’s city center. The more than 200,000 visitors put the city on the map as the gay capital of the world. The event led to heightened visibility for the LGBTIQ+ community and an overall atmosphere of friendship. The years-long struggle for recognition and acceptance seemed to have been won. Many who attended still regard the Gay Games 1998 as the best week of their lives. Which is reason enough to reflect on this event now, 25 years later.