The first ever World Outgames starts this weekend in Montreal

[Wonk]

http://www.montreal2006.org/en_schedule.html


The first World Outgames, a celebration of sport, culture and human rights, is set to begin this weekend in Montreal and promises to bring more than 12,000 athletes from around the world.

The athletes will be arriving in Montreal over the next few days for the Olympic-style event for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes.

"We're very excited because it's a real international event... there are lots of volunteers and people who worked since years and years to organize those games," Louise Roy, the Outgames' CEO told Canadian news network CTV.

The Games are part of The International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, where 2000 people from around the world will discuss LGBT human rights—from essential rights to global issues. CTV reports that close to 5,000 volunteers have registered.

(snip)

According to World Outgames’ Website, athletes will compete in some 35 events, such as swimming, track and field and volleyball. Several cultural events are also planned.

more
http://www.247gay.com/article.cfm?section=66&id=10056

[idgiehkt]

1. why did they start this?

does anyone know why they started a separate entity from the gay games? Was there a conflict of some sort?

[Wonk]

2. I found some info on wiki.

I had no idea there was a controversy around this. I just saw a mention of the Outgames on the news, didn't find a mention of it in this forum, and thought it may be of interest to some here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Games#Global_schism_over_Gay_Games_VII.3F
The seventh edition of the Gay Games was originally planned for Montréal in 2006, but the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) removed its sanction after differences arose between it and Montréal 2006, ostensibly over the size of the event. After withdrawal of its sanction, the FGG awarded the official Gay Games VII to Chicago, Illinois. Montréal nevertheless decided to proceed to hold an athletic event without the sanction of the FGG; this plan developed into the first edition of the World Outgames, and the creation of its sanctioning body, the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association. It is yet to be seen whether the worldwide communities of LGBT athletes are both willing and able to support both the Gay Games and World Outgames into the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Games_VII
The FGG believed that the Montreal committee was planning too grand a games, which would threaten the future of the games, if it were not overly successful. The unresolved dispute lead the FGG to withdraw the games from Montreal. Montreal persevered none-the-less and created the World Outgames and creation of the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association sanctioning body, with the backing of the EGLSF. The Federation of Gay Games then consulted with Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley to bring Gay Games VII to Chicago as a form of sanction against Montréal and its competing event, 2006 World Outgames.

[meegbear]

3. And it's also gay pride week ...

it's going to be a zoo there (and if I had the money, I'd be there too).

[gula]

4. I can't wait.

I am going to the opening ceremony on Saturday. Cirque du Soleil, kd lang, Diane Dufresne, etc. It should be great.

This city will be rocking for the next while.