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The
1st World Outgames Montréal 2006: the largest
gay sport and cultural event in history
Montréal, 2 September
2005 – “We have now reached
the final stages of planning for the 1st
World Outgames in Montréal in 2006,”
Mr. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal,
announced today during a press conference. “The
Organising Committee and GLISA [the Gay and Lesbian
International Sport Association], the international
organisation in charge of the Outgames, have all
the budgetary, logistical and security components
in place to ensure the delivery of a major event
with the enthusiastic support of all Montrealers,”
he added. “I am also very pleased and proud
to announce that the longevity of the Outgames
is assured, now that the city of Copenhagen will
carry the flame to 2009 and many other cities
have expressed their interest in hosting the 2013
edition. Once again, Montréal’s innovation
has set the example.”
MONTRÉAL
2006
“With already 6,500 registered,” explained
Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of the Outgames, “and
an impressive number of partners, notably the
Government of Canada, the Government of Québec,
the City of Montréal and Tourisme Montréal,
along with numerous sponsors and a solid team
in place, we now know that we will reach our objectives
at all levels.”
Budgets forecasts have been respected,
with an operating budget of 16.9 million dollars,
of which 29% comes from governments, 27% from
registrations, 30% from sponsors and 5% from the
conference, with other sales making up the remaining
9%. To date, Montréal 2006 has respected
its forecasts.
Thirty-five different sport competitions,
five cultural events and an international conference
on rights will be held from 26 July to 5 August
2006. As well, Opening and Closing Ceremonies
broadcast by Radio-Canada, Canada's national French-language
public broadcaster, will round out the programme.
Legendary Québec diva Diane Dufresne and
the Cirque du Soleil have already confirmed that
they will perform during the Opening Ceremony.
The ceremonies will be produced by Guy Latraverse
of Sogestalt Television.
The Co-Presidents of the International Conference,
Ms. Joke Swiebel and Mr. Robert Wintemute, announced
that Ms. Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, and Mr. Vladimír Špidla,
Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and
Equal Opportunities for the European Commission,
have both expressed their interest in attending.
Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human
Rights for the Council of Europe, and Lord Waheed
Alli from the United Kingdom as well as many other
well-known figures have also confirmed their presence.
In addition to the Opening and Closing
Ceremonies, Montréal 2006 is confident
that the cultural programme planned for 2006 will
be a great success. Organisation of the Choral
Festival, Square Dance and Country Western Dance
events, and activities for bands and colour guards
are all well underway. Viger Square, which will
be renamed “Rendez-Vous Square” for
the week of the Outgames, will provide a gathering
place in the heart of the city for thousands of
participants and visitors in early the evenings
after the various sport competitions have wrapped
up for the day.
GLISA
The Co-Presidents of GLISA, Ms. Catherine Meade
and Mr. Thomas Dolan, announced at the close of
their Inaugural Delegate Congress that Copenhagen
will be the host city of the 2nd World Outgames
in 2009.
The cities of Manchester in the
United Kingdom and São Paulo, Brazil, have
also sent GLISA their intentions to bid on the
third edition of the Outgames in 2013.
“We were extremely impressed
by Montréal 2006’s organisation of
the Outgames,” said Ms. Pernille Vange,
representative of the mayor of Copenhagen, “and
are ready to collaborate with them so that we
can benefit from their experience and expertise
for the Outgames in 2009.”
GETTING READY
FOR NEXT YEAR
“The dream we have be
following in Montréal for the last five
years is about to become reality,” concluded
Mark Tewksbury, Olympic medalist and Co-President
of the Outgames. “We have been living an
incredible adventure in synergy with the LGBT
community in Montréal, and our partners
and sponsors. As we travel around the world to
meet with people who will be coming here next
year, we are absolutely thrilled with the enthusiastic
welcome we receive wherever we go. On behalf of
Montréal 2006, I would like to thank all
of those, both here and abroad, who have put their
trust in us and tell them that they will be very
proud of the 1st
World Outgames.”
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Source:
| The
1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 Organising
Committee is a not-for-profit organisation.
The games will be held from 26 July to
5 August 2006 with more than 16,000 participants
in the sport, cultural and conference
programmes. Thirty-five sports disciplines
will be represented during seven days
of competitions. Participants from around
the world and from over 100 different
countries are expected. Opening and Closing
ceremonies will cap off the sports competitions,
open to all. An international gay sport
and cultural "Rendez-Vous" not to be missed! |
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