Press Release

The 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 hosting registration and information days in the UK

Montréal, 2 February 2005 – Representatives from the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 will be visiting the United Kingdom in early February to promote what will be an unparalleled international LGBT event next year in Montréal – Canada’s bustling cultural metropolis. Outgames Director of Marketing & Communications, Tom Czerniecki, will be in the UK from 3 to 15 February, visiting Manchester and London, while Outgames Co-President and Olympic Gold Medalist, Mark Tewksbury, will be in London from 12 to 14 February, 2005.

While in Manchester, Mr. Czerniecki will be attending the Manchester Pride Fundraising Dinner on 3 February. This will be followed by two Registration Days for Montréal 2006’s Outgames sport competitions, cultural activities, and International Conference on LGBT rights, organised in cooperation with Trevor Burchick from Team Manchester. In London, Outgames organisers will be hosting a series of Information Sessions and meeting with many of the city’s LGBT sport teams, community organisations and media representatives. This visit to Britain is part of a far-reaching international promotional campaign by Outgames organisers that will bring them to over 200 cities worldwide in 2005.

The 1st World Outgames will be held in Montréal from 26 July to 5 August 2006, bringing together 16,000 mostly LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) participants for an event on a scale never before seen in LGBT sport. From 26 to 29 July, “The Right to Be Different” International Conference will gather 2,000 delegates to discuss LGBT rights around the world, draft and adopt the Montréal Declaration establishing an action plan to extend or affirm the rights of the LGBT community in the years to come.

From 29 July to 5 August, sport competitions will welcome 12,000 participants competing in 33 disciplines. Opening and closing ceremonies will be held in Montréal’s magnificent Olympic Stadium, precisely 30 years after the city hosted the 1976 Olympic Games. The ceremonies will be broadcast live on Radio-Canada, Canada’s national television network. Throughout the week, numerous cultural activities will also be made available as part of the Outgames programme.

The Outgames and the UK

With 18 months to go, registration is well underway and already many athletes from the UK have registered and made their Montréal reservations for the 1st World Outgames. UK participation is shaping into one of the best contingents ever in the history of international LGBT sports events. Furthermore, British involvement in the “The Right to Be Different” International Conference is extensive, as the Conference’s Scientific Committee is co-chaired by London’s own King’s College Professor of Law, Robert Wintemute. Dr. Wintemute will be on hand at the London information sessions to answer questions pertaining to the Conference.

Eighteen months to go

Registrations for the 2006 Outgames have already surpassed the 3,000 mark, which represents an incredible success for an event that is still a year and a half away. Among registrants to date, 30% are European, 44% are North American and 15% come from Oceania. Also worth noting is the breakthrough that Montréal 2006 is experiencing in other parts of the world, with 5% of registered participants coming from South America, 2% from Africa and 4% from Asia.

Local British teams, groups and media representatives who wish to meet with Outgames representatives during their stay may contact Mr. Czerniecki directly or contact Montréal 2006’s Official Travel Partner for the UK, Man Around (www.manaround.com). With offices in the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany, the Man Around Group is one of the world’s largest travel companies serving the lesbian and gay communities. It has partnered with Montréal 2006 1st World Outgames to offer participants with exclusive services and tour packages for the 2006 Outgames.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - Highlights

Manchester

- February 4, 2005 - 1st World Outgames Registration Day
1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Taurus Bar, No 1 Canal Street, Manchester

- February 5, 2005 - 1st World Outgames Registration Day
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm Taurus Bar, No 1 Canal Street, Manchester

London

- February 8 to 11, 2005 - Meetings with LGBT teams and groups, and media representatives, London

- February 12, 2005 - 1st World Outgames Information Sessions, London
1:00 pm, 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm Québec House, 59 Pall Mall, 3rd Floor, London

- February 13 and 14, 2005 - Additional meetings with LGBT teams and groups, and media representatives, London