Gay Games Names 'Champions'

“With now 9,480 people registered,” explained Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of the 1st World Outgames, “numerous prestigious partners, notably the Governments of Canada and of Québec, the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, along with major sponsors, including Bell Canada, Labatt and Radio-Canada, and a solid team in place, we now know that we will attain our objectives on every level. We will have at least 16,000 participants and 250,000 visitors in Montréal in 2006. We will host the largest LGBT sport and cultural event ever held!” The fall promotion offered teams and groups registering before 31 October 2005 discounts on the registration fee. Late registrants for the promotion will have until 30 November to benefit from the offer.

Participants come mainly from North America with 53%, Europe at 34%, Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) at 9%, Africa at 2% and South America and Asia at 1% each.

The Outgames will offer a programme of 35 sports, 6 cultural activities and an International Conference on rights from 26 July to 5 August 2006. In addition, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Olympic stadium will be televised by Radio-Canada, a first for an LGBT event, Diane Dufresne and the Cirque du Soleil are already confirmed for the Opening Ceremony, and 3 mega-parties will be organised by the BBCM Foundation (internationally known for organising the Black & Blue Festival for the past 15 years).

31 SPORT FEDERATIONS SANCTION THE 1ST WORLD OUTGAMES MONTRÉAL 2006
A total of 31 mainstream Québec, Canadian and international sport federations have agreed to sanction events in the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006, a first in the history of an LGBT sport event. The list of sanctioned sports is available in the table of additional information below.

GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEAR
“The dream we have been following in Montréal for the last five years is about to become reality,” concluded Louise Roy, CEO. “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.”