| Conference |
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The
International
Conference poised
for success
The International
Conference on
LGBT Human Rights,
presented by
the 1st
World Outgames
from 26 to 29
July 2006, has
made an important
step forward
this week with
the launch
of the Preliminary
Programme
for the event,
which will be
held at the
Palais des Congrès,
Montréal’s
prestigious
convention centre
(also the venue
for the recent
United Nations
Climate Change
Conference).
It marks the
beginning of
an important
international
recruitment
campaign to
reach individuals
and organisations
in more than
one hundred
countries. Over
the four days
of the Conference,
some 2000 delegates
will discuss
the current
state and the
future of lesbian,
gay, bisexual
and transgender
(LGBT) rights
worldwide.
Already
more
than 800 people
have proposed
workshops
related to the
main Conference
themes: The
essential rights,
global issues,
diversity with
the LGBT community,
participation
in society and
creating social
change.
“The
Conference will
help us to reach
our ultimate
goal, that of
legal and social
justice of the
kind already
enjoyed by more
and more LGBT
people living
in Australia,
New Zealand,
Canada, South
Africa, most
Western European
countries and
in some parts
of the United
States, compared
with those who
live in African,
Asian, Eastern
European and
Latin American
countries,”
said Ms. Joke
Swiebel, Co-President
of the International
Scientific Committee
for the Conference.
The
Declaration
of Montréal
will be adopted
and presented
to delegates
at the close
of the Conference
proceedings.
It will then
be presented
to United Nations
authorities
and to national
governments
to mobilise
unequivocal
support for
the respect
of LGBT rights.
This will be
the legacy of
the Conference,
one that will
be enriched
by the participation
of a large number
of individuals
from a diverse
range of backgrounds
and cultures.
The
International
Conference
on LGBT Human
Rights will
bring to Montréal
legal scholars,
opinion leaders,
academics, researchers,
specialists
and human rights
defenders from
around the world.
With more than
800
delegates already
registered,
the success
of the Conference
in July 2006
is virtually
assured. Objectives
for the Conference,
in terms of
amplitude and
attendance,
will be attained
or even surpassed.
“We
are proud to
have the support
of many internationally
respected partners
in the organisation
of the Conference,
including the
National Gay
and Lesbian
Task Force (the
Task Force),
the National
Organization
for Women (NOW),
the Gay &
Lesbian Athletics
Foundation (GLAF),
Hivos, the International
Gay and Lesbian
Human Rights
Commission,
ILGA-World and
ILGA-Europe,
the COC, the
world’s
oldest LGBT
sport organisation,
based in the
Netherlands,
Homosport Nederland,
Égale
Canada, la Table
de concertation
des organismes
lesbiens et
gais du Québec,
the National
Gay & Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce
(NGLCC) from
the United States
and the European
Association
of Gay Chambers
of Commerce,”
added Ms. Louise
Roy, CEO of
Montréal
2006.
“In
presenting this
ambitious project,
the Outgames
organisers have
demonstrated
their determination
and their vision
in linking the
LGBT sports
movement with
the global fight
for LGBT rights
as human rights.
This was a courageous
decision –
one that we
feel was, without
question, the
correct one.
What the Outgames
and the Conference
have in common
is defending
the human right
of every LGBT
person in the
world to participate
fully, openly
and equally
in every part
of life, without
hiding their
sexual orientation
or gender identity,
including in
every sport,
at every level,
from their neighbourhood
to the Olympic
Games, and at
every age, be
it 18 or 88,”
concluded Mr.
Robert Wintemute,
Co-President
of the International
Scientific Committee.
PARTNER
ORGANISATIONS
FOR THE CONFERENCE
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| Volunteers |
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More
than 2,000 volunteers
recruted!
The
1st
World Outgames
has once again
surpassed its
objectives.
As of 31 December
2005, more than
2,000 volunteers
have been recruited
for the Outgames.
The goal for
2006 is to recruit
another 500
volunteers per
month and perhaps
as many as 750
volunteers in
certain months.
This will ensure
that we reach
our target of
5,000 volunteers
before the opening
of the Outgames.
The recruiting
team would like
to send out
their warmest
thanks to all
those who have
worked closely
with us to help
us reach our
goals.
In
January and
February, the
1st World
Outgames team
is looking for:
Volunteers
to play leadership
roles in the
training of
volunteers:
The
team is looking
for people to
head committees
and supervisors
for sub-committees.
These positions
require about
5 to 10 hours
per week.
Recruiters
to join our
recruiting team
Volunteers
are needed in
every aspect
of the Outgames
including sports,
the Conference,
the marathon,
medical services,
security and
transportation.
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| Sports |
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Sports
reaching maximum
capacity for
the 1st
World Outgames!
Register
now!
Montréal
2006 opens up
new spaces in
Basketball,
Ice Hockey and
Soccer to allow
more athletes
to register
Thank
to the recent
team and group
promotions,
the 1st World
Outgames are
thrilled to
announce that
we have exceeded
our registration
objectives in
Basketball and
Ice Hockey.
Registrations
for many other
disciplines
have already
surpassed 50%
of their maximum
capacities.
the 1st World
Outgames sports
team is expecting
the number of
registrations
to rise dramatically
over the next
few months,
so they encourage
all athletes
who would like
to participate
in the largest
LGBT sport and
cultural event
in history to
register now.
To
meet the demand,
Montréal
2006 has increased
the number of
competition
sites to accommodate
a greater number
of teams in
these sports.
Many
other disciplines
are already
reaching the
maximum number
of athletes.
Watch for the
next edition
of the Club
Montréal
2006; we will
be announcing
the closing
dates for registrations
in the following
disciplines:
| Sport |
Number
of participants
vs. initial
capacity |
| Basketball |
108% |
|
Ice
Hockey |
101% |
| Soccer
(football)
|
90% |
| Water
Polo |
71% |
| Dancesport |
69% |
| Badminton |
68% |
The
Organising Committee
invites visitors
to check the
link below regularly
to see, sport
by sport, the
cities represented
in the 1st
World Outgames.
The information
posted will
reflect the
progress of
registration,
in real time.
www.montreal2006.info
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Site
of the month: the
Olympic Park
Of
all the sites
used for the
1st
World Outgames
Montréal
2006, the Olympic
Park remains
for Montrealers
the sport venue
par excellence
and, of course,
the very heart
of the 1976
Olympic Games.
Thirty years
later, Montréal
will once again
welcome the
world, this
time for an
extraordinary
“rendez-vous”
in a unique
new format.
1.
Perimeter structure
of the Olympic
Stadium
The
offices of the
Montréal
2006 Organising
Committee are
location within
the perimeter
structure of
the (1) Olympic
Stadium.
The
Olympic Park
will be the
site of many
different sport
competitions
and the prestigious
venue for the
Opening and
Closing Ceremonies.
The site will
also be one
of four “Villages”
set up for the
Outgames, offering
a myriad of
services to
participants
and visitors,
including activities,
shows, events,
and information
booths. The
Marathon, which
will also pass
through the
Gay Village,
will finish
at this site.
2.
The Olympic
Park Aquatic
Facilities
Swimming
and Synchonised
Swimming, as
well as the
Outsplash Show,
will be held
at the Stadium’s
aquatic facilities,
which were constructed
to meet Olympic
standards, and
are located
in the Sport
Centre at the
base of the
tower. The Centre
is regularly
used by Canadian
athletes and
medalists.
In
the summer 2005,
Montréal
hosted the XI
FINA World Championships.
The Montréal
2005 organisers
not only demonstrated
their knowledge,
skills and professionalism
on the international
stage, but also
left a legacy
of expertise
from which Montréal
2006 continues
to benefit,
as it does from
the invaluable
support of Montreal's
gay and lesbian
aquatic club,
À
Contre Courant.
3.
The Maurice-Richard
Arena
The
Maurice-Richard
Arena will host
five days of
competitions
and the finals
for Figure Skating
during the Outgames.
For the first
time in history,
professional
figure skaters
can take part
in the competitions.
The closing
Showcase gala
is sure to thrill
and amaze spectators.
4.
The Pierre-Charbonneau
Centre
Three
competitions
will be held
at the Pierre-Charbonneau
Centre. Powerlifting
and Aerobics
competitions
will be held
successively
in the palestra,
which will be
specially arranged
for the occasion.
Dancesport will
be held in the
large gymnasium
where almost
2000 spectators
can attend the
different events
of this crowd-pleasing
discipline.
The director
selected for
this event is
the organiser
of La Classique
du Québec,
an internationally
renowned Dancesport
event.
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| What's
New in Culture |
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Country
Western Dance
More than 100
dancers have
already registered
from Canada,
the United States,
the Netherlands,
Mexico and France.
Dancers from
the following
IAGLCWDC (International
Association
of Gay/Lesbian
Country Western
Dance Clubs)
clubs have registered:
- Club
Bolo
- The
Othersiders
- Capital
Country Dance
Club
- Southern
Country South
Florida
- The
Amsterdam
Stetsons
- Les
Hors la Loi
du Faubourg
-
Southern Line
Atlanta
Square
Dance
More
than 100 participants
have registered
from Canada,
the United States
and New Zealand.
Dancers from
the following
IAGSDC (International
Association
of Gay Square
Dance Clubs)
clubs have registered:
- Ottawa
Date Square
- Hotlanta
Squares
- Seaway
Rainbow Squares
- Independence
Squares
- Rocky
Mountain Rainbeaus
- Triangle
Squares
- Boston
Uncommons
-
Time squares
Sing
out strong at
the Outgames
with eminent
artistic directors
Do
you love to
sing but are
not part of
a choir? Is
your choir unable
to attend the
Outgames as
a group? No
problem! The
Outgames have
something just
for you. You
may register
as an individual
for one of the
Outgames’
three international
choruses. These
choruses will
be composed
of individual
voices from
around the world.
Singers in these
men’s,
women’s
and mixed choruses
will enjoy 10
hours of workshops
and rehearsals
with invited
artistic directors.
They will have
the opportunity
to perform during
a special evening
show to mark
the close of
the Choral Festival
as well as on
the outdoor
stage at the
Rendez-Vous
Square, the
central meeting
place for participants
and visitors
during the Outgames.
Montréal
2006 is proud
to announce
that Ms. Andrée
Dagenais and
Mr. John Dawkins
will be joining
the Choral Festival
as musical directors.
A third musical
director will
be announced
very soon…
Andrée
Dagenais
Andrée
Dagenais is
an assistant
professor at
the Brandon
University School
of Music. Ms.
Dagenais holds
a doctorate
in choral conducting
from the University
of Iowa and
a master’s
degree from
the Eastman
School of Music
in Rochester,
New York. She
currently teaches
at Université
de Montréal
and has taught
previously at
Queen’s
University,
the University
of Saskatchewan
and McGill University.
She directs
the Brandon
University Chorus,
which, under
her direction,
was honoured
at the Canadian
Music Festival
in 2000 and
2001. In 2003,
she founded
the Brandon
University Women’s
Voices, with
which she has
presented concerts
in Canada and
abroad. Ms.
Dagenais teaches
choral conducting
each summer
in Québec.
She has given
numerous workshops
on choral singing
in North America,
South America
and in Europe.
John
Dawkins
Born
in Brighton,
UK, John Dawkins
completed his
studies at Reading
University in
England, where
he specialised
in piano and
in choral and
orchestral conducting.
In 1988, he
left England
for Paris and
in 1991, became
assistant director
of the Chœur
d’hommes
François
Legrand. Since
then, he has
continued to
make his mark
in the realm
of choral and
orchestral conducting.
In 1996, he
was named musical
and artistic
director of
the Melo'Men,
an international
gay men’s
chorus from
Paris, touring
with the chorus
abroad as well
as offering
numerous performances
in France. In
2000, his work
was awarded
the first prize
in the Coup
de chœurs
contest, organised
at Île-de-France.
In 2002, he
was named musical
director and
conductor of
the Rainbow
Symphony Orchestra.
In 2003, he
founded the
Borromée
vocal ensemble.
The same year,
he directed
the Mélo’men
for performances
at the Lido
in Paris, at
the Palais des
Congrès
and at French
National Assembly.
Since 2005,
he has been
a professor
of English lyric
diction for
the Le jeune
chœur de
Paris (the Paris
Youth Chorus).
His work as
a conductor
and musical
director takes
him regularly
to countries
around the world
such as Germany,
Austria, Canada,
Great Britain,
Ireland, Italy,
Switzerland
and the United
States. John
Dawkins is equally
known and respected
as an accompanying
pianist and
as a composer. |
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| More
News... |
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Québec
Gay Chamber
of Commerce
awards
the Phenicia
2005 Grand
Prize
to the
1st World
Outgames
Montréal
2006!
On
Wednesday,
14 December
2005,
more than
200 people
attended
the Phenicia
2005 gala
at the
Marriott
Château
Champlain.
Under
the honorary
presidency
of Mr.
Benoît
Labonté,
Mayor-elect
of the
Borough
of Ville-Marie
and Mr.
Dan S.
Hanganu,
internationally
renowned
architect,
the Chambre
de commerce
gaie du
Québec
(CCGQ
or Québec
Gay Chamber
of Commerce)
presented
the Phenicia
awards
during
a colourful
evening.
Established
in 2004,
the Phenicia
gala was
created
to recognise
and honour
members
who have
made important
contributions
to the
growth
and expansion
of the
gay and
lesbian
community
by awarding
prizes
in eight
categories.
The
1st World
Outgames,
which
was the
recipient
of the
Phenicia
2005 Grand
Prize
during
the gala,
would
like to
congratulate
all the
partners
in the
event,
along
with the
members
of the
organising
committee,
including
the Master
and Mistress
of Ceremonies,
Mr. Éric
Prud'
Homme
and Ms.
Louise
Murray,
as well
as artists
Lambert,
Daniel
Gendron
and the
Vox vocal
ensemble
of Montreal,
for making
the evening
such a
great
success.
Representatives
from the
1st World
Outgames
enjoyed
the gala
in the
company
of the
Honourable
Ken Dryden,
Canadian
Minister
of Social
Development
and Mr.
Réal
Ménard,
Deputy
for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
to the
House
of Commons.
In
addition
to the
1st World
Outgames,
the following
individuals
and organisations
were also
honoured
in their
respective
categories:
- Hôtel
Dominion
1912,
Québec
- Dr
Réjean
Thomas,
Président,
Clinique
médicale
l’Actuel;
Prsident
and
Founder
of Médecins
du monde
Canada
- Labatt
Breweries
- The
Organising
Committee
of the
Vile
Festival
International
GALA
Choruses
- Mr.
Laurent
McCutcheon,
Fondation
Émergence
et Gai
écoute
- Ms.
Julie
Drolet
et Ms.
Maude-Émilie
Goyer,
Monquartier.ca
-
Hon.
Martin
Cauchon,
Special
Partner,
Gowling
Lafleur
Henderson
LLP
Congratulations
to one
and all
for a
great
success! |
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| Teams
around the world |
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The
Queer Sports
Alliance Melbourne
The
Queer Sports
Alliance Melbourne
is having a
pre-Montréal
get together
on Sunday 26
Feburary 2006.
At 12 noon there
will be a picnic
and bar-be-que
at Albert Park
Lake with some
fun picnic races
like egg &
spoon and three
legged races.
Email
us for more
details.
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| GLISA |
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GLISA
welcomes new
members!
As part of its
commitment to
growing and
developing LGBT
sport year in
and out, GLISA
is proud to
begin 2006 by
welcoming a
number of new
member organisations
from around
the world, including
two new members
from the Asia-Pacific
region, one
from Europe,
plus four North
American and
two Latin American
clubs. GLISA,
in less than
two years, has
now welcomed
over 75 members
from around
the world.
GLISA
is an international
organisation
dedicated to,
among other
things, supporting
the LGBT sport
movement professionally.
To meet the
rapidly growing
needs of its
membership,
GLISA is proud
to welcome a
second staff
person, Robin
Witty. A seasoned
sport professional,
Robin comes
to GLISA after
serving for
seven years
as executive
director of
Boxing Ontario.
Her expertise
in sport development,
communications,
and administration
will serve GLISA
well through
2006
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| Montréal
Community |
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YMCA
Offers Language
Courses
Why
not advantage
of your stay
in Montréal
by taking English
or Frech courses?
Four-week
intensive courses
offered!.
Summer
sessions:
26
June to 21 July
2006
24 July to 18
August 2006
Find
out more about
the YMCA of
Greater Montréal
International
Language School
at: www.ymcalangues.com |
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| Discussion
Forum |
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The 1st
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 >>
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| Outgames
Video |
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|  Watch
the Outgames
ad, presented
on Pink
TV
!
Running
Time: 03:35
mins.
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| Accommodation |
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Book
your room online
now!
Welcome
to Tourisme
Montréal's
Housing Bureau!
You'll find
everything you
need on this
site to make
your room reservation
for the Outgames.
It's
fast and user-friend.
Click here >>
Montréal
is a city that
really loves
to celebrate.
Take advantage
of your stay
to discover
our many attractions,
events, restaurants
and boutiques
- and take home
unforgettable
memories!
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