If Hong Kong's bid wins, it will be the first Asian city to host the Games.

Hong Kong; Washington, D.C.; and Guadalajara, Mexico; have been named finalists to host the 2022 Gay Games, organizers have announced. The three cities beat out Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, which did not make the cut.

Hong Kong’s inclusion is particularly notable, as no Asian city has ever hosted the games. Local organizers hope the competition will challenge the stigma the LGBT community faces. It could also inject up to $1 billion HKD (about $129 million) into the local economy, from some 40,000 participants and visitors.

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“We believe that Hong Kong is this perfect city to represent Asia,” said Dennis Philipse, co-chair of the bidding team. “Asia is the world’s largest continent and home to an estimated 221 million LGBT+ people, but is also a region where there is an ongoing struggle to overcome homophobia and gain acceptance.”

Anti-LGBT activist Roger Wong Wai-ming questioned the effort, telling South China Morning Post, ”why make this point it is a gay games? Why can’t gay athletes compete in the normal Olympics?”

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Homosexuality is still illegal in 72 countries, many of which participate in the “normal” Olympics. In Rio, gay athletes were put at risk of being exposed by a Daily Beast article on Grindr use in the Olympic village.

Founded in 1982, the Gay Games are the largest international sporting and cultural event open to all, regardless of ability, age, sexual orientation, race, gender, nationality, political or religious beliefs, ethnic origin or HIV status.

The 2014 games in Cleveland, featured 10,000 athletes from 60 countries competing in 37 events. The next games will take place in Paris in 2018. The winning bid for the 2022 games will be announced in October.