President Barack Obama has endorsed Orlando’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games.

The US president sent a letter last week endorsing the Florida city as host for the world’s largest LGBT sporting and cultural event.

‘I am pleased to voice my support for the City of Orlando’s bid to host the Gay Games 2018,’ he said.

‘As President of the United States, I am committed to advancing equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community, both in America and around the world.’

The Gay Games has been held every four years since 1982 and attracts as many as 200,000 athletes and spectators. The last competition in 2010 was hosted by Cologne in Germany.

Project director for Orlando’s bid Mikael Audebert told the Washington Blade in America: ‘Thanks to its geographical positioning and its relationships with the Americas, Orlando is poised to bring more LGBT athletes from central and south America, currently under-represented at the Gay Games.’

Orlando is the only bidder for the games outside of Europe. Other cities competing to host are London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Limerick in Ireland.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has also backed London’s bid for the 2018 Gay Games, even pledging to help organizers to negotiate the use of the 2012 Olympic venues.

The Federation of Gay Games is expected to announce who will host the games this autumn.