The buzz is building all across Canada and around the world for the first OutGames in Montreal this summer, in which ten thousand participants, five thousand volunteers and over two million spectators will take part. Calgary is getting ready for the event in the east as well, as proven by the large turnout recently for a press conference from the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) on a tour to promote the games with Calgary’s own Mark Tewksbury!
“The World OutGames is a sport, culture and human rights conference. We have 35 sports, six cultural activities and the biggest human rights conference on LGBT rights in history. The conference runs from July 26th to July 29th, and the sports and cultural festivities start on July 29th and continue for eight days,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tewksbury. “Our event is very inclusive – we have created an event where, even if you aren’t an athlete or singing in a choir, there is something to do. We wanted to create an Olympic-like atmosphere so that if you are LGBT, it is the place to be at to experience that world coming together. We have activities for the Leather and Bear communities because often they have felt excluded. We are reaching out to all the factions within the LGBT community so that there is something for everyone at Montreal 2006. We will have 32 sanctioned sports over the seven days and several non-typical events, for example bridge. [The fact that] we are offering Bridge is that message of inclusivity. There are members of our community that aren’t as physically able to compete as others, so some events are designed for those who still want to be part of it.”
Tewksbury’s enthusiasm was contagious as he talked about the many firsts that OutGames has already achieved, with over seven months still to go!
“One of the most exciting and distinctive things is the support we have received from the different levels of government. They have been very supportive of having an event that supports human rights. Also, we have received sanctions for every traditional sport – swimming, track and field, rowing; you name it, it is sanctioned. This is significant because we want to take a step forward to make sport safe not just in the LGBT community but for everyone. How we do that is stepping towards the mainstream, have them understand what we are doing, sanction it and build avenues of respect. This is the first time in the history of an LGBT Games that so many sports have been sanctioned and we are very proud of that. The biggest accomplishment is that the International Rowing Federation out of Switzerland has listed the first world out games on their world calendar – the first time that an International Federation has put a gay event on its calendar. The event will, for the first time, feature same sex figure skating – men can skate with men, women with women - Skate Canada has sanctioned that.”
Thomas Dolan of the board of Directors of GLISA added his ideas and goals for OutGames 2006.
”We also focus on professionalizing LGBT sports. We get to take the notion of the GLISA to the mainstream and connect it back to local organizations. We aren’t just going out and getting sponsorship. We are sharing it. I know that two billion dollars will be spent on the Vancouver Olympic Games. We would love to be able to give a host city seed capital in the future.”
It is an honor that Montreal was chosen to be the location of the first OutGames. Tewksbury spoke about why.
“There are very few cities that could pull off what we are going to do. Because of the kind of climate and support for our community in Montreal, it is a really special city - with a couple of million people but it feels like a village. You can be openly gay in Montreal and it is a welcoming environment. There is no question that the OutGames are going to be huge as we are already over 10,000 registered participants, and we expect 250,000 visitors. People who have been to Montreal in the summer know that Montreal is famous for how Montrealers don’t leave the city. People stay and participate and fill the streets for festivals. We are expecting that of the 2.3 million spectators, over a million will be from Montreal.”
Tewksbury concluded by talking about the sociological ramifications of the event.
“We forget how lucky we are to live in places like Canada. In some places people cannot gather through sport as Gays and Lesbians, they are in great risk for their lives. The conference accesses countries like Lebanon and China that would never be able to access this otherwise. It allows people to come to Montreal, experience the out games and go back and grow within LGBT communities. The event will have a declaration asking for equality worldwide that will be taken to the United Nations. It is a huge opportunity to use sport for social change and we are very proud of that part.”
The first World OutGames may be seven months away but it is going to be here before you know it! Make plans to be in Montreal from July 26th to August 5th!
OutGames 2006
www.montreal2006.org
