OVERVIEW
The Bridge tournament will welcome up to 400 participants, and will include high-level competitive players as well as those who are relatively new to Bridge.

The tournament will be regulated by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) as a Unit Game, providing eligible players with Masterpoints.

In addition to ACBL Masterpoints, Bridge players will also have the opportunity to accumulate “Rainbow Points”, which are given at every IAGLBC (International Association of Gay and Lesbian Bridge Clubs) tournament.

DATES
• Monday, 31 July 2006
• Tuesday, 1 August 2006
• Wednesday, 2 August 2006
• Thursday, 3 August 2006

SANCTIONED BY
The tournament will be sanctioned by ACBL.

RULES
ACBL rules will be used.

ANTI-DOPING POLICY
The 1st World Outgames endorses a healthy and fair approach to sports training and competition. Sport events in the 1st World Outgames are sanctioned by provincial, national, and in some cases, international sports governing bodies. In order to adhere to the rules of these sporting federations and to guarantee that the Outgames are run in a fair and just manner, GLISA and the Outgames have adopted the policy as set by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Consequently, all athletes competing in the 1st World Outgames must adhere to GLISA’s position on drugs in sport and may be required to undergo drug-testing. We encourage all participants to become familiar with this policy.
 
POLICY ON TRANSITIONED AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
The objective of the 1st World Outgames in this regard is to provide an experience where all athletes are able to compete in a safe and welcoming environment, without discrimination of any kind. Our priority is to find the appropriate balance to ensure that no person, regardless of their birth gender, is disadvantaged in athletic competition and at the same time that no person participating in the Outgames experiences discrimination.

GLISA and the 1st World Outgames have collaborated so as to develop a policy that reflects this balance. We encourage all participants, especially those who have identified themselves as ‘transgender’ in the registration process, to become familiar with this policy.

AFFILIATION | MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
No affiliation or membership to the ACBL is required for this tournament.

COMPETITION FORMAT
Five events will be offered:

	3 Stratified Pairs Tournaments
	1 Continuous Pairs Tournament
	1 Team of Four Tournament (Swiss)

Before each session, players must go at the registration table and sign up for the events in which they wish to participate.

Participants must register individually. You do not need to have a partner to register for the Bridge tournament. During registration, you will be able to identify the name of your partner or partners. Participants without partners or a team must register at the Partner Desk one hour prior to game time in order to be matched with a partner.

Stratified Pairs Tournaments
In order to qualify, a pair must participate in two sessions in the same day.

Continuous Pairs Tournament
In order to qualify, a player must participate in at least two of the six sessions offered in Continuous Pairs.

Team of Four Tournament (Swiss)
For this event, participation in both sessions is mandatory.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Competition days will be divided into two sessions: from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.

CLASSIFICATION
Players who are members of the ACBL will be classified in one of the following three categories according to the number of Masterpoints accumulated:

Players who are not members of the ACBL are invited to select their level based upon an honest evaluation of their years of experience and past performance. They may consult with the tournament director before doing so. However, the tournament director reserves the right to upgrade or downgrade a pair after each event according to ranking achieved.

REFEREES AND OFFICIALS
Officials will be accredited by the ACBL.

ACCREDITATION
During the accreditation, participants from Canada will be required to show government-issued identification with a photo. For athletes from all other countries, a passport will be the preferred form of identification. Furthermore, every participant will be required to provide his or her participant number.

Main Accreditation Centre (Salle 220C Hall Viger)
Volunteers
20 to 23 July	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
Participants - Conference
24 to 28 July	08:00 to 20:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
Participants - Sport and Culture
27 and 28 July	08:00 to 20:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
29 July	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
30 July	08:00 to 12:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal

Late Accreditation (Limited Services)
30 July to 5 août	08:00 to 18:00	Olympic Stadium (rotonde)
30 July to 3 août	08:00 to 18:00	Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
4 August	08:00 to 14:00	Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
30 July	12:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès (5e étage)
31 July to 5 August	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès (5e étage)

MEDALS
Every participant in the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 will receive a participation medal. In recognition of personal achievement, there will also be medals awarded for first, second and third place in each of the categories listed above.

COMPETITION SITE AND TRANSPORTATION
The Bridge tournament will be held at the Delta Centre-Ville Hotel, located in downtown Montréal. It is the 1st World Outgames official hotel.

The Delta Centre-Ville Hotel is just three Metro stations away from Sainte-Catherine Street and from the Gay Village.

Hôtel Delta Centre-Ville

Square-Victoria

SERVICES
Information available soon.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

• Jean-Marc Picard, Organizer in chief
• Luc Raymond, Responsable of equipments and sports results
• Alain Poirier, Responsable of registrations
• Bernard Truong, Responsable of registrations
• Marc Trudel, Responsable of protocol and ceremonies
• Éric Blouin, Responsable of volunteers
• Jean Castonguay, Responsable of referees

SPORT COORDINATOR
You may submit your Bridge questions to an expert in all aspects of the game. Just email us at bridge@montreal2006.org.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Frequently asked questions about Bridge will be posted here soon.

REGISTRATION FOLLOW-UP
Visit the statistics page to see an overview of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 participating cities.

REGISTRATION TWO GREAT LATE REGISTRATION FEE OFFERS! Go for the full package or for the à la carte – it’s up to you! Register as an individual or as a team. Bring your friends. Come play for real. The registration period for the 1st World Outgames ends very soon! To be eligible to participate, it is essential that your registration is paid in full.   Please take a few minutes to complete your profile, if needed, and pay your registration online to ensure your place in your selected activity/activities.   Hurry! Time is running out!   FULL REGISTRATION PACKAGE* Sports and Culture   $325 CAD   Full Registration package for Sport and Culture participants includes: One event (sport or culture) Participation at the Opening Ceremony Participation at the Closing Ceremony One métro/bus pass A participation medal Free admission as a spectator to your selected sport/cultural activities Reduced admission fee to all other sports (as a spectator) Participant Souvenir Bag which includes: city and transit maps, official games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal and Québec tourist information brochures Rebate of $100 CAD for the International Conference 20% discount for the games' souvenir book Over a week of friendship, fun and discoveries! *Note : - Subject to change without notice. - Additional sports/cultural activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD. - Offer valid for new registration. Subject to availability as some   events (sport or culture) may close before the deadline.  I want to register now >>  For more information, please visit the Registration page. À LA CARTE PROMOTION* Sports and Culture   $75 CAD   The À la carte Promotion* for Sport and Culture participants includes: One event (sport or culture) A participation medal Free admission as a spectator to your selected sport/cultural activities Participant Souvenir Bag which includes: city and transit maps, official games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal and Québec tourist information brochures Over a week of friendship, fun and discoveries! *Note : - Subject to change without notice. - Additional sports/cultural activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD. - Offer valid for new registration. Subject to availability as some   events (sport or culture) may close before the deadline.  I want to register now >>  For more information, please visit the Registration page.