MONTRÉAL, January. 24:  –  With already more than 3,000 paid registrations, the future is looking bright for  the 1^st Word Outgames to be held in Montréal in 2006.

Of those so far registered, 44% come from North America, 30% from Europe, 15% from Oceania, 5% from Latin America, 2% from Africa and 4% from Asia.

“Eighteen months away from the largest sport and cultural event in Montréal in the next three years, we are pleased to announce that registrations have now passed the 3,000 mark,” Ms. Lucie Duguay, Co-President, and Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of Montréal 2006, announced today during a press conference held with the Honourable Charles Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal and Mr. Michel Prescott, Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal.

In presenting its 2004 report, Montréal 2006 organisers provided an update on a year that, despite its challenges, was marked by progress and success, assuring that the Outgames will be held as planned in 2006.

“It is important to understand, that Outgames participants assume their own registration costs,” Ms. Roy pointed out.  “That is why 50% of our 16.9 million dollar budget will be generated by participants and visitors, with 28% coming from registration fees, and 22% from ticketing and the sale of promotional products.

“Unlike other recent sporting events, our games are about participation, open to all, yet sanctioned by experienced national or international governing bodies for each discipline,” she added.

Currently, public funds represent 23% of the budget and sponsorships in cash, goods and services 26%. Fundraising activities make up the remaining 1%.

Sponsorships for Montréal 2006 are currently valued at a total of 12 million dollars, which breaks down as follows: private partners, 4.5 million dollars, or 38% of the total; public partnerships, 3.8 million dollars or 32% of the total; and media partners, with a total of 3.6 million dollars, representing 30% of the total.

“For an event like Montréal 2006,” explained Ms. Roy, “sponsorships are essential, whether in cash or in services.  This search for private sponsors is never easy and we have noted a certain apprehensiveness in the Montréal business community.

“I would like to take the opportunity today, in hopes that the media will convey the message, to launch an appeal to the business community: one cannot expect Montréal to maintain and develop a prominent international reputation without the private sector playing an active rôle.

“We also believe that the business community is in tune with the vast majority of our fellow citizens when it comes to rights for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

“Montréal 2006 would therefore like to express its heartfelt thanks to its sponsors, particularly Radio-Canada, Labatt Breweries, GlaxoSmithKline, the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ-CTC, Pre2Post, Air Canada, Montréal International, Impart Litho and the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal, who have not hesitated to commit their support.

“Regardless of the fact that the event is aimed primarily at the LGBT community, they have had the vision to recognize that the 172 million dollars in economic spin-offs generated will benefit the entire business community as well as the citizens of Montréal.”

Ms Roy concluded: “The City of Montréal and Tourisme Montréal have been incredible partners for Montréal 2006 since the beginning.  Their support is an amazing added value toward the success of this project.”

The City of Montréal's commitment will be in the form of indispensable services: the use of the city's infrastructures, including numerous Olympic facilities.

“The City of Montréal has been working with the Organising Committee for more than four years and the project is progressing as planned, said Michel Prescott, Vice-President of the Executive Committee.  “Our infrastructures are there, along with various levels of technical support, including policing, signage and so on. On 29 July 2006, the anniversary of the closing of the 1976 Olympic Games, in an Olympic Stadium filled to capacity, we can all look forward to taking part in the Opening Ceremonies of the Outgames, which are sure to fill every citizen with great pride.”

For its part, Tourisme Montréal has provided not only financial support but has also been an outstanding promoter of the Outgames.

“The international LGBT community, according to our analyses, already has a positive image of Montréal,” said the Honourable Charles Lapointe, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.  “The rate at which registrations are coming in, eighteen months before the event, is further proof of this.

“This is also the result of four years of joint efforts between Tourisme Montréal and Montréal 2006, and our work does not stop there.  We have already launched our plans for 2005 and we will have a presence in every corner of the world.

“Montréal 2006 will be a part of more than 200 promotional activities, including festivals, conventions, sport tournaments, and trade shows.  Tourisme Montréal will continue to actively support Montréal 2006,” he added.

Following events that led to Montréal 2006's decision to forge ahead with their event without the ‘Gay Games’ trademark, the international LGBT community immediately rallied behind the idea of creating a new international, democratic, and geographically representative movement open to the population at large: the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA).

Less than one year since its creation, GLISA already has 47 member teams and organisations, more than the double of any existing international LGBT organisation.

“GLISA entrusted the 1st World Outgames to Montréal 2006,” said Thomas Dolan, Co-President of GLISA, “because we are confident that the Organising Committee is fully capable of delivering an event that will be a positive milestone in the annals of the LGBT sport movement.

“In just a matter of months, GLISA has positioned itself as a world leader in the development, promotion and support of sport and culture in our community, not only in Western countries where the job is easier, but also building ties on all five continents, even making breakthroughs, for the first time in our history, in Africa and Latin America.”

Ms Roy said that the coming year would be dedicated to intense international promotion.

“As well, in 2005 we will be setting up our teams of volunteers,” she pointed out.  “We will need the help of over 5,000 volunteers, and we are calling upon Montréalers, with their natural enthusiasm and spirit of hospitality, to join us in welcoming the world to Montréal in 2006.”

1^st World Outgames will be staged between 26 July to 5 August 2006, with the sporting competition starting on July 29.

From 26 to 29 July, “The Right to Be Different” International Conference will be held which, with the participation of some 2,000 delegates, will examine the advancement of LGBT rights around the world and will adopt the Montréal Declaration to establish an action plan to extend or affirm the rights of the community in the years to come.

■ Representatives of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 will be in Brazil from 25 January to 1 February 2005, visiting the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador to promote Montréal 2006. Mr. Jean-Yves Duthel, Head of Public Relations and Mr. Joseph Cruz, Liaison for South American Development, will be holding several meetings with various LGBT groups and will also be in Porto Alegre to attend the World Social Forum between January 26 and 28.

LINKS

Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 website
Tourisme Montréal website

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24 January  2005