Press Release

EGLSF Withdraws from the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and Rendez-Montréal 2006 Signs a Major Agreement with the European Sports Federation

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EGLSF Withdraws from the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 Signs a Major Agreement with the European Sports Federation

Montréal, 12 March 2004 - On Sunday, 7 March, the annual assembly of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF), founded in 1989 with a membership of more that 100 sports teams and 10,000 athletes in Europe, voted in favour of withdrawing from the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). Équipe Montréal also withdrew from the FGG in November 2003 after the failed negotiation at the FGG's annual assembly in Chicago.

The EGLSF and Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 have had strong ties for many years now. The European organization was firmly in favour of Montréal when its candidature for the Gay Games was unveiled in 2001 in Johannesburg. The EGLSF also voted overwhelmingly against the withdrawal of the Gay Games in Montréal during the FGG's annual assembly in Chicago last November. The EGLSF is a federation whose mission is to deliver services to its members, promote the creation of new teams and to defend of gay and lesbian rights. The Federation has official observer status with the Council of Europe.

Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 has just signed an important agreement with the EGLSF which includes provisions for the transfer of information between Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 and the European Federation as well as for joint promotions related to the 2004 EuroGames in Munich, Germany, and the following games planned for Utrecht, the Netherlands. In return, the EGLSF agrees to post reciprocal link exchanges on many different web sites.

Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 has benefited from the experience of the European organization, particularly the EGLSF's experience in organizing the EuroGames since 1992. The European games are held annually, three years out of four and have been an important influence on the development of the European gay and lesbian sports movement. The EuroGames will be held this year in Munich, Germany, from 29 July to 1 August, 2004 and over 5,000 athletes are expected to attend.

"For an organization like Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006," said Ms. Louise Roy, Chief Executive Officer of Rendez-vous Montréal 2006, "this agreement is an incredible accomplishment. With the European network and support, our ability to reach gay and lesbian athletes across Europe has now increased dramatically. Each year, over one hundred sporting events are held under the EGLSF banner, which means that Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 will enjoy the benefits of an unparalleled and targeted promotional campaign to a pool of over 10,000 people. We now believe that European participation in the Montréal games will meet our original predictions."

"We can now say," added Ms. Roy, "that GLBT athletes, participants, spectators and visitors from Europe will be at the Montréal games in great numbers. This good news is just the first step in the creation of a new GLBT sporting movement which will provide international support for the games in Montréal."

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