Press Release

GLISA and Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 Sign: 1st World Outgames will be held in Montréal

Montréal, 11 May 2004 - "GLISA [the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association] is pleased to announce today that it has signed a partnership agreement with Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006," Mr. Thomas Dolan, Founding Board member of the international association, announced during a press conference today. "In signing this agreement," added Ms. Catherine Meade, Founding Board member of GLISA, "we would like to underscore the outstanding work that has been accomplished over the last three years by the Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 team in their goal to offer the world's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community a sport and cultural festival on an unprecedented scale, one that will be financial viable and distinguished by its spirit of openness.

Part of the agreement gives Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 exclusive rights to the World Outgames trademark up the time of the event in 2006; in return, GLISA will promote World Outgames to the community of GLBT sports teams and sporting federations all over the world. Certain mutually beneficial financial arrangements are also included in the agreement.

On 27 March of this year, GLISA held it first meeting since its founding and its Board of Directors met yesterday and today in Montréal. The members of the Board are:

Catherine Meade (Toronto, Canada) - Thomas K. Dolan (Vancouver, Canada) - Geoffrey Lyne (Sydney, Australia) - Ole Udsholt (Copenhagen, Denmark) - Christian West (New York, U.S.A.).

"We are also pleased to announce today that Berlin will submit its proposal to become the next host city for the second World Outgames in 2009," the GLISA Co-Presidents said. "This is an incredibly encouraging development for a young organisation such as ours.

A VISION, A MISSION AND VALUE

GLISA's vision is to be an inclusive, globally recognized, integrated, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered association that celebrates, supports and promotes our culture through sport. Its mission is as a membership-based, democratic, international association of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered sports organizations from around the world. GLISA will ensure a safe place for GLBT athletes to play sports and will do so by providing quality services to our members, nurturing the growth of the GLBT sports movement, and promoting participation in GLBT sports events.

"In proudly bearing the banner of the 1st World Outgames," said Olympic gold medallist and Co-President of Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006, Mr. Mark Tewksbury, "all our activities will be guided by the values we share: Participation and celebration, respect and fairness, innovation, diversity and empowerment. We are also committed to passing on, both to GLISA and to the next host city of the second World Outgames, a legacy that will promote the development of GLBT culture through sport."

The vision shared by Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 and GLISA will translate into the presentation of thirty-three sport competitions, numerous cultural activities, as well as an international conference on GLBT rights. Beginning in 1 June, early registration for the 1st World Outgames will begin on Rendez-Vous Montréal's website, www.montreal2006.info.

SPORTS

Thirty-three sporting competitions will be presented during the World Outgames in Montréal. All competition formats have now been finalised, with some modifications for certain sports. The sanctioning process with the governing bodies of each sport has also been completed.

For the first time in the history of GLBT sporting competitions, the competitions in Montréal will be registered as part of the official international calendar. In fact, FISA (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron), the international rowing federation, has registered our regatta on its calendar and will therefore be a FISA-recognised event. As well, RCA (Rowing Canada Association) will also be supporting the competitions in Montréal. It is worth noting the regatta will be held in the Olympic Basin on Île Notre-Dame, which meets all international standards.

CULTURE

In addition to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which will be broadcast by Radio-Canada as part of its coverage of the games, numerous and varied cultural activities offered will be offered as well. Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 has already signed an agreement with GALA Choruses, which will be bringing some 2,000 choral singers to Montréal to perform. As well, the cultural programme will feature country western dance groups along with marching and concert bands, representing about 1,000 participants in these activities.

THE CONFERENCE

A conference entitled "The Right to Be Different" will be held from 26 to 29 July 2006, just before the opening of sporting competitions and cultural activities. An International Scientific Committee will meet in Montréal on 30 and 30 May 2004 to prepare the Conference programme. This Committee will be composed of eminent legal scholars, lawyers, activists, academics and journalists from fifteen different countries representing all five continents. In partnership with union organizations such as the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ, and the Human Rights and Youth Protection Commission of Québec, and with the support of the Minister of Citizen Relations of Québec, the Conference is expected to attract at least 2,000 participants.

"The 1st World Outgames," concluded Ms. Louise Roy, Chief Executive Officer of Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006, "will be fiscally balanced. With the opening of registrations just days away, the arrival of international sponsors, and with 45% of our budget already secured, we are sure to successfully deliver an event that will be both world-class and financially viable.

-30 -