The 1st World Outgames: A Celebration for All at Square Viger!
From 26 July to 5 August 2006

Montréal, 22 June 2006 – Montrealers are invited to come out in droves to Square Viger, the official meeting place of the thousands of participants and visitors to the 1st World Outgames that will be held this summer from 26 July to 5 August. But Square Viger isn’t the only place to celebrate the Outgames: they will be celebrated all over the city! Even Ste-Catherine Street will be closed to automobile traffic in the Village, the location of the official Outgames Souvenir Boutique. The Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium kicks off the festivities on Saturday, 29 July, starring k.d. lang, Diane Dufresne, Jonas, Martha Wash, Deborah Cox and Sylvie Desgroseillers and the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. The following Saturday, 5 August, the Closing Ceremony will electrify the Stadium for a second spectacular show featuring entertainment legend Liza Minnelli plus Montréal icon Marjo, and Marie-Chantal Toupin among others. In addition, three official parties will be organised by the BBCM (the Bad Boy Club of Montreal, creators of the ever-popular Black & Blue). The Outgames will be eleven days of festivities that are sure to have Montrealers and visitors alike dancing to the Outgames beat.

“Square Viger will be open from 11:00 to 23:00 for participants and visitors to meet up and really enjoy the Outgames experience together. It is also an incredible opportunity for Montrealers to meet participants from close to 110 different countries!” said Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006. Medal presentations and performances by Outgames participants will be featured daily. Starting around 5 pm, guest DJs will host the most popular happy hour in town, followed later in the evening by guest artist performances. Not-to-be-missed theme shows, ranging from Cabaret Night to Girls Night Out, Glam!, Disco, Hip Hop and even Folk with La Bottine Souriante will make Square Viger the place to be this summer. “Participants and visitors will get a little taste of Montréal culture from our very own local artists,” added Ms. Roy. The activities at Square Viger will end on 5 August with an evening dedicated to Copenhagen, host city to the 2nd World Outgames in 2009.

Information booths as well as a variety of concessions will be set up and available to all. The Outgames All-Access Bracelet, which gives access to the majority of venues during the eleven days of events, will be available for purchase at Square Viger for a modest price of $20.

Walk the walk on Ste-Catherine during the Outgames
The Borough of Ville-Marie, home to Montréal’s Gay Village, will host thousands of participants and visitors. “First of all, Ste-Catherine Street East, between St-Hubert and Cartier, will be closed to traffic from 28 July to 6 August so that bars and restaurants may serve their patrons outside,” announced Mr. Benoît Labonté, Mayor of the Borough of Ville-Marie and member of the City of Montréal’s Executive Committee, responsible for Culture and the Downtown district

Soul, the Official Closing Party at the Palais des Congrès: A fundraiser organised by BBCM in support of the Outgames on 5 August!

The BBCM Foundation is gearing up for a summer to remember! The dynamic team behind the incomparable Black & Blue Festival will present three official Outgames parties, in the themes of Mind, Body and Soul: Mind, the VIP Welcome Gala on 28 July, Body, the Opening Party at the Metropolis on 29 July and Soul, the Closing Mega Party at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal on 5 August. True to their usual high standard, BBCM has organised events of international caliber to make the city proud. Michael Kaiser (Paris), Tom Stephan (London), Junior Vasquez (New York), Mark Anthony (Montréal), Abel (Miami), and Shawn Riker (Toronto) are among the numerous guest DJs for these events.

Montréal is behind the Outgames all the way!

Mr. Réal Ménard, Federal Deputy for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mr. Martin Lemay, Deputy of Ste-Marie-St-Jacques, Ms. Francine Sénécal, Vice-President of the City of Montréal’s Executive Committee, responsible for Sports and Leisure, and Mr. Benoît Labonté, Mayor of the Borough of Ville-Marie and member of the City of Montréal’s Executive Committee, responsible for Culture and the Downtown district, attended the press conference today to demonstrate their support for this event, to underline their involvement and to invite Montrealers to participate this once-in-a-lifetime event that will soon take place in their city.

“Our borough will be at the heart of the upcoming 1st World Outgames that will take place from 26 July to 5 August. We have contributed financially, logistically and technically and are proud to be a real partner of the event,” said Mr. Benoît Labonté.

“I am proud that the district of Ste-Marie-St-Jacques will host the world this summer. I, myself, will take part in the Outgames in the Golf Tournament on August 2nd. The entire community is behind this grandiose project that will undoubtedly have a significant social impact, not only for Montréal, but for all of Québec, no to mention the positive image of tolerance and inclusion that we are presenting to the entire world,” said Mr. Lemay.

Mr. Réal Ménard, in addition to his participation in the Wrestling competition, will also take part in the International Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights. “This Conference is an essential component of this immense gathering,” said Mr. Ménard. “The Outgames, through the Conference, will generate an incredible mobilizing power in order to recognise gay and lesbian rights as human rights, both within our society and throughout the world.” The Declaration of Montréal, the result of the Conference discussions, will be read at the Opening Ceremony on 29 July by Ms. Martina Navratilova, internationally-renowned athlete and 18-time Grand Slam Singles Tennis Champion, and Mr. Mark Tewksbury, Canadian Olympic medalist and Co-President of the 1st World Outgames.

From 26 July to 5 August, the 1st World Outgames will unite an impressive number of sport and cultural participants from LGBT communities around the world. In the spirit of inclusiveness, the 1st World Outgames is, first and foremost, a celebration of sport, culture and human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation.

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Source:

1st World Outgames Montréal 2006
Pascal Dessureault
Press Relations
T. +1 (514) 252-5858 x 5378
C. +1 (514) 378-1245
pdessureault@montreal2006.org