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Mission accomplished: the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 welcomed half a million spectators and 18,599 participants and volunteers!
Montréal, le 5 August 2006 – It's mission accomplished for the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006, which wraps up today with the Closing Ceremony. "We are very proud to announce that we have reached our participation and attendance targets with more than half a million people at the sport competitions and cultural activities, 18,599 participants from 111 countries as conference delegates, athletes, volunteers or participants in the cultural programme," said Mark Tewksbury, Co-President of the 1st World Outgames.
For eleven days, Montréal was host of a major international event combining sport, culture and human rights. The International Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights from 26 to 29 July brought together 1,516 participants from every corner of the globe to discuss the worldwide situation of LGBT people. The thirty-five sport disciplines drew 10,248 athletes, while 835 people came together for the cultural component of the programme. Some 5,200 volunteers worked tirelessly at all the events.
"The 1st World Outgames Montréal would not have known the success it has had without the exceptional contribution of its volunteers and partners and the unwavering support of the entire Montréal community. Thanks to this financial and logistical support, the 1st World Outgames have and will continue to have a significant social and economic impact for Montréal, Québec and the all of Canada", said Louise Roy, CEO of the organization.
The 1st World Outgames were presented by the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, the City of Montréal, Radio-Canada and Tourisme Montréal. The organization also worked in partnership with Bell Canada, Labatt Breweries, CGI, the STM and Solotech. The 1st World Outgames also benefited from its association with Via Rail, Air Canada, the Borough of Ville-Marie, Fugues, Gaywired (H.I.M) and Out in America. And, of course, the organization is proud to have enjoyed the support of 131 partners and sponsors.
Culture and sports: "We Play for Real"
Throughout the city, the passion for the event was obvious. "Participants were impressed by the warm welcome they received from Montrealers and the organizers' top-notch preparations for the games," said Tewksbury. Sports disciplines were officially sanctioned by provincial and national sport federations, which meant that any records broken would be officially recorded, as was the case in swimming on 4 August when American Daniel Veatch beat a world record in the 200m backstroke in his age category. Competitions were held at 41 sites throughout the city.
The Outgames offered a rich and varied programme of cultural activities throughout the week. The Choral Festival was a resounding success, with sold-out performances every night. As well, energy and passion carried the day in the Country Western Dance and Square Dance activities.
The danse show Grand Ball and Outsplash, held Thursday and Friday attracted thousands of people. Hundreds of tickets are already sold for this afternoon's Masquerade on Ice. 2,000 packed the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau at Montréal's Olympic Stadium to watch the often emotional and always spectacular Grand Ball, the culmination of the danse sport/ballroom dancing competition. The line getting into Outsplash last night stretched from the Viau Métro station, to the entrance of the Olympic Pool.
The Declaration of Montréal: in Defence of LGBT Human Rights
The Declaration of Montréal, unanimously endorsed by participants at the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, remains one of the key moments of the 1st World Outgames. The five plenary sessions brought together 1,516 participants, including world-class speakers such as the Honourable Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and international tennis champion Martina Navratilova. Over the coming months, the Declaration of Montréal will be delivered to officials at the United Nations and national governments around the world to seek meaningful support for the rights of the LGBT community. The council of the Borough of Ville-Marie of Montréal was the first political body to adopt the Declaration of Montréal on Tuesday, 1 August, before the 1st World Outgames had even ended.
The Outgames: A Logistical Success
Some 110 employees, 5,200 volunteers, 306 organizing committee members
and 494 officials, not to mention the over one hundred suppliers, made a
significant contribution to the smooth running of competitions, performances,
ceremonies and over one hundred other events and activities that made up the
11-day international gathering.
Montréal 2006 : Significant Benefits
"Montréal has once again demonstrated its ability to host a major international event in a festive spirit of friendship, celebrating sport, culture and human rights," said Roy. "The incredible welcome that the Outgames received from the city and its citizens will further enhance Montréal's reputation as an open and welcoming city."
According to Mark Tewksbury, hosting the Outgames also allowed Montréal to further establish the city as a prime destination for the LGBT community. "Montréal will enjoy significant social and economic benefits, both in the short and medium term."
The Outgames organization is proud to leave as its legacy a major international event. The event also gives the LGBT community worldwide a solid foundation upon which to continue to build a promising future. The Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) will also enjoy, in addition to a legacy of future quadrennial games, continental Outgames to be held in North America in Calgary in 2007, and Asia-Pacific in Melbourne in 2008. GLISA has the intention to establish its headquarters in Montréal.
The next World Outgames will be held in Copenhagen in 2009. In recognition of this, the Mayor of Culture and Leisure of Copenhagen, Martin Geerson, will be officially handed, during the Closing Ceremony, GLISA's official flag, by the Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay.
The 1st World Outgames in Figures
— Current Tabulations
| Staff |
|
| Number of Employees since May 2006 |
110 |
| Percentage Men / Women |
Men: 62%
Women: 38% |
| Youngest and Oldest Staff Members |
18 and 60 years old |
| Main Languages Spoken |
French, English, Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian and German |
| |
|
| Volunteers |
|
| Number of Volunteers Registered |
5,200 |
| Percentage Men / Women |
Women: 34%
Men: 66% |
| Youngest and Oldest Volunteers |
18 and 88 years old |
| Volunteers from Outside of Canada |
600 |
| Main Languages Spoken |
English, French and Spanish |
| Number of Volunteer Hours Workedt |
228,000 hours |
| Members of Organizing Committees for all Disciplines |
306 |
| Number of Officials |
494 |
| |
|
| Participants |
|
| Number of Conference Participants |
1,516 |
| Number of Conference Presenters |
511 |
| Number of Participants in Sports Events |
10,248 |
| Number of Participants in Cultural Events |
835 |
| Number of Politicians Present |
30 |
| Percentage Men / Women |
Women: 34%
Men: 66% |
| Youngest and Oldest Participants |
18 and 82 years old |
| Origin of Participants |
Canada: 39%
United States:19%
Germany: 7%
Netherlands: 6%
Australia: 6%
United Kingdom: 5%
France: 3%
Others: 15% |
| Number of Accreditations Issued |
20 800 |
| Number of Outreach Bursaries |
254 |
| |
|
| Disciplines |
|
| Number of Disciplines |
35 sports disciplines
6 cultural disciplines
1 conference |
| Number of Sites |
41 |
| Number of Competitions |
1 900 |
| Number of Medals Awarded |
Gold: 2,930
Silver: 2,462
Bronze: 2,470
TOTAL: 7,882 |
| |
|
| Media and Promotions |
|
| Number of Posters Printed |
9,500 |
| Number of Banners |
126 |
| Number of Brochures |
100,000 |
| Value of Print and Electronic Advertising |
$800,000 |
| Number of Billboards |
150 in the métro
20 exterior in the Borough of Ville-Marie |
| Number of Copies of OutgamesXpress newspaper |
120,000 |
| Number of Lamppost Banners |
100 |
| Number of Promotional Items of All Kinds |
120 |
| Various Promotional Activities |
250 tournaments (U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia)
Onsite with representatives in 24 tournaments
150,000 brochures distributed in English and French (in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia) |
| Advertising Campaigns |
3 in gay media in Europe, the U.S. and Australia |
| Total Value of Media Campaign |
$7 million dollars |
| Number of Journalists |
820 |
| |
|
| Services |
|
| Number of Lunches Served to Volunteers |
14,000 |
| Number of Food Concessions |
30 |
| Number of litres of Alcohol consumed at the different sites |
25,000 litres of beer |
| Number of litres of non-alcoholic beverages consumed |
45,000 litres of water
15,000 litres of soft drinks
10,000 litres of coffee
11,000 litres of thirst quenchers |
| Number of First-Aid Workers |
115 |
| Number of Cases Assisted |
Between 150 and 175 |
| Computer and Telecommunications Equipment |
140 Computers
40 Printers
More than 200 cellular telephones
400 walkie-talkies |
| |
|
| Web Site |
|
| Number of Visits in July |
|
| Daily |
28,000 visitors
6,000,000 hits |
| Monthly |
874,000 visitors
187,000,000 hits
1,800,000 pages viewed |
| Nomber of pages |
1,500 |
| |
|
| Attendance |
|
| Number of Spectators |
500,000 |
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