Capital wins right to host world gay event in 2012 - Olympics - Evening Standard
       

Capital wins right to host world gay event in 2012

THE capital will host the world's largest gay festival in the same year it holds the Olympic Games, it has been announced today.

London has won the right to host World Pride 2012 after a campaign by Mayor Boris Johnson, tourism bosses and the group which organises London's Pride festival.

The event is expected to attract a million extra visitors. The two-week festival is expected to take place from 23 June to 8 July, with the main parade taking place on 7 July the anniversary of the bombings which killed 52 people in 2005.

Mr Johnson said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that London has won the right to host World Pride in 2012.

"London has one of the largest and most diverse LGBT [Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender] communities on the planet and it is a fantastic opportunity to inspire cities across the globe. In an Olympic year, the eyes of the world will already be on London and the city will give an enormous welcome to LGBT people, their friends and families, for what we want to be the most colourful and exciting World Pride festival yet."

Chair of Pride London, Paul Birrell, said: "This is a great achievement for London."

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