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GLISA creates a new North American gay and lesbian sport federation!
As part of its commitment to growing and developing LGBT sport, year in and year out, GLISA is proud to announce the creation of the North American Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (NAGLSF). The NAGLSF was incorporated in December of 2005, and the five signatories will be joined by another five steering members to create the first Board of Directors leading into 2006.

GLISA is an international organisation dedicated, among other things, to creating sustainability for the global LGBT sport community. Following the successful model of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), the NAGLSF will provide services to its members, represent LGBT sport interests to mainstream sport and human rights organisations, and provide annual Continental Outgames in years between World Outgames.

Join GLISA now!

Launch of the Bursary Programme

The 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 announced on 5 December the launch of its Outreach Bursary Programme for disadvantaged participants in sport and cultural activities, as well as for participants in the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights. The Montréal organisation will offer bursaries valued at nearly $500,000 CAD and the selection committee will accept applications until 1 February 2006.

The Outreach Bursary Programme will have two components. One part of the Programme will be available for registrants in sport and cultural activities, while the other will be specific to the International Conference, in an effort to recognise the needs and realities of these two very different groups of 1st World Outgames participants.

The Programme plans to award bursaries for lodging and registration for the sport or cultural activities, or for the International Conference. Preference will be given to candidates residing in locations other than Canada, the United States, Western Europe, Israel, Japan, Australia or New Zealand.

The Outreach Bursary Programme has been made possible by the contribution of donors such as GlaxoSmithKline and HIVOS and through our Bronze, Silver and Gold fundraising galas.

For more information on the Outreach programme, please visit the following page.

Breakthrough for the Conference
Outreach Programme
HIVOS, A Dutch Foundation,
becomes Platinum Sponsor

HIVOS has joined the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights as a Platinum Plus Sponsor, giving us yet another opportunity to make an important step forward in the advancement of rights. Hivos joins other respected sponsors, including GlaxoSmithKline, a Gold Sponsor of the Conference.

About HIVOS

Hivos is a non-governmental organisation, rooted in the Netherlands and guided by humanist values, that seeks to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world where citizens, women and men alike, have equal access to resources, opportunities and markets and can participate actively and equally in decision-making processes that determine their lives, their society and their future.

The organisation is committed to assisting poor and marginalised people - and their organisations - in countries of the global South and East, and Eastern Europe. A sustainable improvement of their situation is the ultimate benchmark for the work and efforts of Hivos. A primary directive in the organisation’s policy is the empowerment of women to achieve gender equality.

The goal of Hivos is a world in which all people are equal and in which no limits are set on individual’s opportunities for development.

This is why Hivos supports organisations that:

• broaden and strengthen basic political rights, such as freedom of opinion, representation, association and assembly, the right to vote and to stand for election;
• broaden and strengthen the rights of poor and marginalised population groups – for example, native peoples, outcasts, sexual minorities, people with HIV/AIDS and human rights activists.

Special end-of-season sale!
50% off regular price on all 1^st World Outgames merchandise

Visit our e-Store here »

This special offer is for a limited time while quantities last.

Don’t miss the launch of the new official 1st World Outgames souvenir collection and the redesigned e-Store in January. You will see the official souvenir clothing, athletic gear and an exclusive Outgames line of fashion clothing!

With just over 200 days before the official opening of the Outgames, we wanted to take some “Time Out” to share with you some of the latest exciting news from the Sports Department.

Cycling and Roller-Racing
Cyclists and roller-racers will be thrilled to experience the famous Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. This paved Formula One circuit will be used as the main venue for the Road Race, Time Trial, and Team Time Trial. The department is excited to have secured this world-class venue. Not only will it be a safe place for our cyclists, but it will also ensure a maximum audience, considering that this site is accessible via the Metro and is half a kilometre away from the Olympic Basin where rowers, dragon boaters and triathletes will compete in their events. In our relentless efforts to centralise the maximum number of sports, we have been granted permission to host the Beach Volleyball tournament at the same location. By successfully gathering all these sports on the same island where “Expo 67” was held, the 1st World Outgames now has access to these premium facilities that will be set up to accommodate thousands of spectators, surrounded by water and green spaces; the site is also within walking distance of a man-made beach. This will undoubtedly prove to be a hot spot during the games!

Highest official standards

The 1st World Outgames recently announced that we are sanctioned by 32 sports federations. The objective of these partnerships was to secure support in the delivery of the games. So far, this has brought high-profile individuals into every single organising committee.

Participants are sure to appreciate our efforts to benefit from the best available expertise in designing the events, which will be based on sound technical formats. Furthermore, we are in a position to guarantee the highest official standards in most disciplines, especially in all the “Team Sports”, in example, Basketball, Handball, Soccer, Water Polo and Volleyball, and in judged sports like Diving, Dancesport and Figure Skating, among others. Given that we have secured a high contingent of teams, we are currently discussing with the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) so that we may host several European officials.

As part of our ongoing efforts to maximise the number of participants and optimise the quality of each event, the Sport Department is in the process of contacting all sports participants to inform them of some of the changes that have been made to their events. These changes will also be posted on our website shortly. For instance, some small changes will occur in the Tennis competition to allow athletes additional opportunities to compete and succeed by offering participants more games and more excitement!

New Outsplash! Show
Over the past months, a task force was mandated to work on the design of the “sports shows.” Many ideas have been formulated to stimulate greater attendance and provide a creative framework where spectators can enjoy spectacular shows and cheer on performers. Consequently, the 1st World Outgames is pleased to announce the creation of a new water show concept. The “Outsplash Show” will feature 12 teams, each presenting a five-minute performance on the theme “Flamboyant – Outrageous.” Every performance will be judged by a panel, according to several criteria (Out, Proud, Diversity, and Respect of the theme). These aquatic “musicals” will not only entertain the public, but will call upon our artists to integrate comical gestures and dramatic tones for the pleasure of the audience.

Launch of promotional video
À Contre-courant Aquatic Club invites you yo Montréal!
À Contre-Courant, Montréal's gay and lesbian masters' aquatic club, has created a video inviting the world to come and discover Montréal. The stars of the video are club members themselves, each of whom invites you to discover a different aspect of our fabulous city!

Running time: 04:26 mins.

	Hign | Format WMV (28.9 MB)
	Medium | Format WMV (22.3 MB)
	Low | Format WMV (15.0 MB)

Launch of the Bears Programme!
On Friday, 20 January 2006, the 1st  World Outgames will officially launch the Bear Programme at the popular STUD bar in the Village. The Organising Committee is looking forward to meeting you there to fill you in on the Programme and how to register. Calling all Montréal Bears, Chasers and Cubs: Get out of your cave and come and meet us! A GRRREAT time will be had by all!

Choral Festival

The Choral Festival will be held at Théâtre Maisonneuve in Place des Arts, a cultural complex that includes five concert halls, making it unique in Canada, and the most prestigious venue in Montréal. Located in the heart of downtown Montréal and within walking distance of the Village, its concert halls and vast outdoor esplanade are the major centers of activity each summer for the largest annual cultural event in the city, the Montréal International Jazz Festival.

More than 20 choruses are now registered from Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Asia, and Australia.

Country Western Dance

The Country Western Dance and Square Dance programmes will be held at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel, where the 2003 IAGLCWDC Convention was held.

More than 100 dancers are now registered from Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Mexico and France.

The Country Western Dance programme is organised in collaboration with Club Bolo, which hosted the 2003 IAGLCWDC Annual Convention. The competitions will be sanctioned and judged by IAGLCWDC.

Good times in Boston!

The Outgames team was in Boston for a jam-packed weekend promoting next summer’s “Rendez-Vous” in Montréal and met with over 500 Bostonians!

Functions were held at Columbus Athletic Club and Club Café 209, capturing a broad section of the Boston community. Over 200 of the ever-popular Montréal “Showbags” were distributed, containing Outgames and Tourisme Montréal merchandise and info, free Columbus Athletic Club memberships and personal trainer sessions, plus lots of other goodies!

Since Boston is just few hours drive from Montréal, it has proved to be a major source of participants and volunteers for the Outgames.

Special thanks go out to the team at Columbus Athletic Club for their kind donation of over 150 gym memberships and personal trainer sessions! Located at 209 Columbus Avenue near Copley Square and the Theater District, the gym is offering a special promotion for athletes training for the Outgames.

Sylvie Bernier and Nancy Drolet join the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 Circle of Excellence
The 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 Circle of Excellence has two been joined by two talented athletes. Ms. Sylvie Bernier, gold medalist in diving at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and Ms. Nancy Drolet, six-time world champion in hockey and silver medalist at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, have accepted our invitation to join the Circle.

Mr. Mark Tewksbury and Ms. Lucie Duguay, Co-Presidents of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 would like to extend a warm welcome to these two accomplished athletes!

The 1^st World Outgames Discussion Forum

The Outgames discussion forum is live! Create your profile and connect with people who share your passion for your sport or activity. It’s a chance to exchange Outgames information online, and to coordinate plans for July 2006 with other participants and visitors.

You can access the forum here >>