Unveiling of the Official Opening Ceremony of the 1st World Outgames:
The Event of the Summer in Montréal!

Montréal, 25 May 2006 – Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006, announced today the programme for the Opening Ceremony. “On Saturday, 29 July at 7:30 p.m., Outgames participants and 45,000 spectators at the Olympic Stadium will live the magic of the games when Mark Tewksbury, Co-President of the Outgames, and Martina Navratilova, the legendary tennis champion, take the stage to read the Declaration of Montréal.” This historical moment will allow participants and spectators at the Stadium to share in the legacy of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, which will hold four days of high-level discussions with prestigious such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour.

“I am very pleased that such internationally renowned artists have agreed to lend their incredible talents and passion to make the Opening Ceremony a magnificent show, where magic and emotion will come together for an unforgettable celebration of inclusion and openness,” added Ms. Roy.

Using the theme of the circle, a symbol of harmony, the Olympics as well as of the human form in movement, the concept of the show will integrate music, song, dance, choruses, mass choreography and performances by the Cirque de Soleil. Artists’ performances will be intertwined to make the Opening Ceremony a sparkling celebration of diversity, filled with surprises!

Six artists of various styles and musical backgrounds will captivate all in the Stadium with their contagious energy and enthusiasm. Through their various repertoires, the artists will invite the public to become aware of all the progress we have made and of the work still be done.

They are: k.d. lang, whose legendary voice can master an astonishing range of material, from Nashville tearjerkers to Tin Pan Alley torch songs, from playful cow-punk tunes to sultry, grown-up pop; Martha Wash, the powerhouse voice who became a pop legend with the cult classic “It’s Raining Men”; Deborah Cox, the R&B chart-topper whose range includes pop and dance music; Jonas, Montréal rocker and rising star on the international rock scene with sex appeal en masse; Sylvie Desgroseilliers, whose voice is a superb blend of power and sensitivity; and, of course, the much anticipated return of legendary Québec diva Diane Dufresne to the Olympic Stadium, adding her unique theatrical flair to ceremony.

And finally, the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil will pay homage to athletes of all backgrounds in a celebration of diversity that will transport the audience into its hallmark world of poetry and magic with breathtaking displays of acrobatics and athletic artistry.

The Organising Committee of the Outgames is backed by a solid and experienced team in the production of the ceremonies: Télé-Vision. Their experience in the production of major events is a guarantee of success for the shows. Producers Jean Rémillard and Daniel Cormier and managing producer Alain Dupont of Télé-Vision have brought together a solid and creative team. Mario Bouchard will handle stage design, Éric Villeneuve will create projections for the giant screens, Alain Lortie will be in charge of lighting, Luc Boivin will be musical director and Jean-François Blais will direct, while Richard Lachance of Solotech will provide top-quality sound for the show. This seasoned team brings the experience and knowledge necessary to create a major international show that will be both inspired and original. Fernand Rainville will be in charge of the art direction and staging for the Opening Ceremony, while Joe Bocan will assume the art direction for the Closing Ceremony, ensuring that both ceremonies will be colourful, vibrant and filled with emotion. “This show has been conceived to bring people together and I hope it will contribute to the breaking down of stereotypes and promote that which brings us all together: the right to love and be loved,” said Mr. Rainville.

The Closing Ceremony, which will also be produced by Télé-Vision, will take place on Saturday, 5 August at 4 p.m., also at the Olympic Stadium. The line-up for the Closing Ceremony will be announced shortly.

Tickets go on sale today at noon through Admission at very affordable prices: Opening Ceremony tickets go from $55 to $150 and from $35 to $100 for the Closing Ceremony. A special combo ticket for both shows will be available, with prices ranging from $81 to $225.

In closing, Ms. Roy was please to note that Radio-Canada will broadcast the Opening Ceremony of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006.

“We would like to invite all Montrealers who would like to take part in this celebration of human rights through the magic of these two shows to come to the Stadium for an unforgettable experience this summer!” concluded Ms. Roy. “We would also like to remind everyone that the best way to come to the Stadium for the ceremonies, and for all the Outgames events, is to use public transportation. We are very proud to have the Société de transport de Montréal as the Official Transporter of the Outgames.”

— 30 —

For information: