VANCOUVER, February 26  –  The annual report of the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) was released here yesterday (February 25) – the first anniversary of the association’s incorporation as a legal entity.

The report outlines the achievements of GLISA’s extraordinary first year, provides a summary of its financial operations, and sets out GLISA’s strategic objectives for 2005 and 2006.

“GLISA’s movement from concept to reality has been a journey filled with hope, dreams possibility and promise,” the co-presidents, Catherine Meade and Thomas K. Dolan write in the report.

“Never before have we been so honoured to bring to fruition such a powerful concept.  Bring Part of the vision of GLISA is a reminder of the power of the people connected to this magnificent community who we refer to as LGBT.

“We at GLISA realize how firmly this community is committed to moving forward and evolving the global sporting movement.  GLISA is an essential, and perhaps natural step in this evolution,” they write.

GLISA was born out of the impasse between Montréal 2006 and the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) - neither could support each other's "vision" and the end result that the Gay Games 2006 was moved from Montréal to Chicago, with the Canadian city vowing to continue a "games" for the world-wide LGBT community..

In its first year, the report shows that GLISA had revenues of $68,173 (CAD) and expenditures of $53,764 (CAD). Nearly $11,000 of the expenditure went to “outr reach” activities.

Membership of GLISA has now reached 52 organisations from five continents and executive director Rachel Corbet expects the figure to grow steadily.  The newest members are: International Front Runners, Beantown Bowling League (Boston, USA), Edmonton Frontrunners (Canada), Ohio Splash (Columbus, USA), Team Niagara (Canada), Team Seattle (USA), Leicester Wildecats Football Club (UK), ADGLT de Goias (Brazil), Seitenwechsel Frauen/Lesben Sportverein (Berlin, Germany), and Movimento Lesbico de Campinas (Brazil).

LINKS

GLISA Annual Report - Adobe Acrobat reader required
GLISA website

26  February  2005