Limerick City is among six other cities competing to host the Gay Olympics 2018.

The south western city is in competition against Amsterdam, London, Paris, Orlando, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paolo.

Cillian Flynn of Limerick Pride, told the Irish Sun, “When people look at the list they say we don’t have a chance but when you look at the facilities and what we have on offer... Yes we can do it.

“Right now we have two members of our bid committee in Bulgaria at the Federation and Gay Games Conference where they are officially unveiling what’s happening for the bid process.”

If successful, the bid would bring millions of euros in revenue into the area. Shannon Development, the region’s Conference and Sports Bureau and local authorities are supporting the bid.

Karen Brosnahan, business manager with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau said, “Nationally we have been trying to lobby to get some funding through Failte Ireland to support the bid process to allow Limerick put its best foot forward and hopefully be one of three short-listed cities that would get a site visit and hopefully be the overall winner.

“The outcome being that Limerick in 2018 would actually get to host the tenth world Gay Games which would be phenomenal for Limerick.”

The Federation of Gay Games released a statement in July which stated, “We wish the bidding groups courage as they take the next steps in this process. Only three of these groups will make it to the site selection meeting in late 2013 in Cleveland, the host of the next edition of the Gay Games in 2014…We are confident that we will have the satisfying and challenging task of choosing among a number of highly qualified bidders.”

The next Gay Games will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2014.