So you missed the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago last summer? Join the club. Woulda been nice to visit one of my absolute favorite big U.S. cities but, no dice. Still, we're in luck! The organizers of the Gay Games have released a feature-length DVD with more than two hours of coverage from the huge sports & cultural festival.

At the games, 11,500 athletes from 70 countries competing in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event included band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties.

The DVD scenes were culled from 200 hours of raw video footage taken by a dozen camera crews throughout the week including the opening and closing ceremony highlights featuring iconic performers such as Margaret Cho, Erasure's Andy Bell, Cyndi Lauper, Megan Mullally, Heather Small, Kate Clinton, Ant and members of the cast of Showtime’s "The L Word," Marlee Matlin, Pam Grier and Daniela Sea.

There are also chapters highlighting 30 Gay Games sports & cultural events, an interview with former NFL football player Esera Tuaolo, on-site interviews of athletes, families and fans - including conversations with international athletes in Chicago on scholarship, Crystal Lake residents at the rowing competition, and athletes attending their 5th, 6th or 7th Gay Games.

There is also Tom Waddell Tribute Video - 4 minute video honoring the founder of the Gay Games movement with commentary by Olympians Greg Louganis and Leigh-Ann Naidoo, former NFL players Esera Tuaolo, Dave Kopay, and Roy Simmons, and a dozen other gay sports legends.

The Official Gay Games VII DVD is available for sale through Wolfe Video with a direct link available at gaygameschicago.org. Pre-orders purchased through the Gay Games organization are being shipped before December 1.