What is Gay Games?
The Gay Games, unlike the Olympic Games, enable people from all walks of life to compete against each other regardless of skill level, age or physical challenge.Since 1994, Gay Games has attracted an average of 12.000 participants.

When is Gay Games?
Gay Games officially begins with the Opening Ceremonies on July 31st, 2010 and ends with Closing Ceremonies on August 7th. Team Band participants are required to arrive prior to Opening Ceremonies on July 28th, 2010

How do I Register?
Everyone in Team Band must register in two places to participate in Gay Games.
The first place to register is at www.TeamBand.org.
Once your registration is complete, you will be directed to the Gay Games registration page at www.games-cologne.de/en/take-part/registration
You must register here so that you can get your credentials once you arrive. Please note that there is a registration fee to participate in Gay Games.

How will I Get Around?
All Team Band participants will be given a free transit pass for the Cologne City Railway System that will be valid for the entire length of Gay Games.

How will I Get Around?
All Team Band participants will be given a free transit pass for the Cologne City Railway System that will be valid for the entire length of Gay Games.

The Cologne city railway is an extensive light rail system that is partially underground and serves Cologne and a number of neighboring cities.

Cologne also has a railway service with Deutsche Bahn Intercity and ICE-trains stopping at Köln Hauptbahnhof (Cologne Central Station), Köln-Deutz station and at Cologne Bonn Airport (Konrad-Adenauer-Flughafen). ICE and Thalys high-speed trains link Cologne with Amsterdam, Brussels (in 2h16, 6 departures/day) and Paris(in 3h51, 6 departures/day. There are frequent ICE trains to other German cities, including Frankfurt am Main and Berlin.

Where will I Stay?
Team Band members are welcome to make their own accommodations, however, the selected hotel for Team Band is:

The Barcello Cologne City Center
Habsburgerring 9
50674 Neustadt-Süd, Köln, Germany
+49 221 228-0

The hotel is located in one of Cologne's most famous squares, the Rudolfplatz, situated right in the center, and just a few steps to the main commercial streets and restaurants. Using the tram, with its stop conveniently located in front of the hotel, you can travel directly to the Energie Stadium where Opening Ceremonies will occur. The hotel has 301 guest rooms, a restaurant, a Fitness Club with indoor heated pool, and a lounge area and bar.

What is the Currency?
The euro (€) is the official currency of Germany. Current rates are approximately 1.5 U.S. dollars to 1 Euro, However, these rates change daily.

What is the Time Zone?
Cologne is six (6) hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone.

Do I need a Passport?
Yes. A valid passport is required for both entering Germany and for returning to your home country.

Is there a Travel Plan?
Yes. LGBA has negotiated a group travel package which is available for download here. Team Band members can take advantage of the group package, or they can make their own accommodations. Team Band participants who are not U.S. citizens can purchase the Land Only package.

The travel package will cost $2,139 and includes both airfare and 11 nights at the Barcello hotel. All flights will depart from JFK airport. Team Band participants can make their own flight arrangements and still take advantage of the Land Only package which is $715 per person based on double occupancy ($130 a night single occupancy). A daily breakfast is also included in the package. The selected travel package was structured with a payment plan option so that participants can pay for their trip over the course of several months. Please note: The Travel Package cannot be altered or adjusted.

How do I Transport My Instrument?
Instruments (Tuba, Euphonium, Mellophones, and Percussion) will be provided.
Transportation for these instruments to rehearsal and performance venues will also be provided by Gay Games Cologne. Participants with smaller instruments will be responsible for bringing and transporting their own instruments.

Rehearsals
Rehearsals for the Opening Ceremonies will begin on July 28th. Rehearsals for the concert are tentatively slated to begin on August 1st. For both events, there will be a maximum of 15 hours rehearsal time allowing plenty of time to enjoy everything that the City of Cologne has to offer.

What is the Climate Like?

Sightseeing
Cologne was built on ground that is steeped in history. Numerous cultural monuments from the past 2000 years, such as the famous Roman Dionysus mosaic, the mediaeval Overstolzenhaus and the Gürzenich Hall, as well as modern structures such as the opera house (1957) and the Media Park (from 1989 onwards) are found in this city.

Museums
One of the most famous museums of Cologne is the Museum Ludwig, which is one of the ten municipal ones. But there are also many ecclesiastical and private museums in this cathedral city. Once a year in autumn the "Long night of the museums" (German site) takes place. The museums then open until late at night and you can visit them all for a fixed price of around 13 Euro.

Theatre
Cologne offers a wide variety of theatres. Visiting the "Schauspielhaus", the official theatre of Cologne, you can experience classic plays and novels - several of them have been given awards - staged in a modern, but always exciting way. If you favour comedy, try the "Senftöpfchen" or the "Atelier Theater", where your laugh muscles will definitely be trained. If you're after something typical of Cologne, then the "Millowitsch Theater" or the "Hänneschen Theater" is the right place for you.

Tours and excursions
Cologne is a highly diverse city - with many different historical, technological and cultural facets. Equally varied is the programme of city tours offered by the Cologne Tourist Office or organisations such as Stattreisen or inside Cologne. The selection ranges from guided tours of the Cathedral, a Brewery tour and extends to tours where you explore the city by unravelling a quiz. Cologne is the ideal starting point for both short and prolonged excursions in one of the most breath-taking cultural landscapes in Germany.