Ernst & Young LLP, a leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, have become a Platinum Sponsor of the 2014 Gay Games. The Games are the largest diverse amateur sporting event in the world, expected to draw 30,000 visitors, including 11,000 participants, to host cities Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, from Aug. 9-16, 2014."We're honored to have a company of Ernst & Young LLP's caliber involved in making this the best Gay Games," said Executive Director Thomas Nobbe. "Its long-time involvement in the LGBT community, including its eight consecutive 100% ratings as reported in Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI), speaks well of how it can impact the greater mission and offer integral support to the Games.""Ernst & Young knows that fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace leads to better results -- for our clients and our high-performing teams," said Steve Howe, Ernst & Young's Americas Managing Partner. "Sponsoring the Gay Games underscores our commitment to leading in the market with our diversity and inclusiveness initiatives and to making inclusiveness real for everyone."Ernst & Young LLP Cleveland Office Managing Partner Lee Thomas said he is pleased to welcome the Games to America's heartland, Cleveland and Akron, a region where the company has operated for more than 110 years. "Our involvement highlights our continued commitment to diversity and inclusiveness and is an outstanding opportunity to support continued economic development in Northeast Ohio," he said.Federation of Gay Games Co-President Kurt Dahl said Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, were chosen because of their welcoming atmosphere and the ability of the Games to have an impact bigger than ever before. "Now, we officially welcome Ernst & Young to the 2014 history-making event and more importantly extend our appreciation for its ongoing support of the Gay Games and its mission," he said.Created in 1982 by former Olympian and gay man Tom Waddell, the Gay Games are held every four years and have been held in world-class cities, including San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam, Chicago and Cologne, Germany.