The 2006 Gay Games (Gay Games VII), colloquially called the Chicago Gaymes, is part of a family of international sports and cultural festivals called Gay Games, sanctioned by the Federation of Gay Games and organized by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community of the host city of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The competition took place July 15– July 22, 2006. The official Gay Games VII slogan was "Where the World Meets."

Actual athletic events were played in venues scattered throughout Chicago and its suburbs, all participating in the Gay Games through special permissive votes in their respective town or village councils. Cultural events included concerts and performances by the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho, Megan Mullally, among others added to the festival's feel and charm. Contemporary artists also provided exhibitions as part of the Gay Games.

Corporate sponsorship was key in planning Gay Games VII, garnering support for global advertising from large companies like Absolut Vodka, American Airlines, Ernst & Young, Fleishman-Hillard and Walgreens. Media relationships were created with the Chicago Sun-Times, New York Times, ChicagoPride.com and the National Broadcasting Company. Advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign offered substantial funding for the event, as well.

Kristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website. She has achieved 16 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the United States and has many fans within the dance music community.

Kristine Weitz was born in Washington, United States.

Kristine Weitz was crowned Miss Washington in 1981 and won a non-finalist talent award at the 1982 Miss America pageant earning her a college scholarship. She was also the preliminary swimsuit winner.

She spent several years performing in Las Vegas lounges before being "discovered." "Kristine W and the Sting," her band in the late 80's and into the 90's, performed at the Silver Slipper Casino, at The Mint Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton and Studio 54 at the MGM Grand. She was signed to RCA Records in the U.S. and she began work on an album which would be a collaboration with Rollo Armstrong and Rob D. Her second single, "One More Try", was issued two years later, in 1996 with remixes by Junior Vasquez, Rollo, Sister Bliss, David Morales, and Stonebridge. This single not only hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, it also crossed over to pop radio, reaching #78 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. When her album, Land Of The Living was released, Kristine W held a free concert at the Virgin Megastore in New York City.