The 1^st 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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