Press Release

  1st World Outgames:
Mayor of Montréal the First to Register

Montréal, 31 May 2004 — The campaign to launch the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 transactional website officially started today. In a protocol ceremony at Montréal's City Hall, Mr. Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montréal, was the first to register, followed by the two Co-Presidents of the event, businesswoman Ms. Lucie Duguay and Olympic medalist Mr. Mark Tewksbury, as well as the President of the swim club À Contre-Courant, Mr. Pierre Rajotte.

On 1 June 2004, it will already be possible for future participants to browse through the site and get acquainted with detailed competition formats for the 33 sports and registration policies related to the event. As of 7 June 2004, participants from around the world will be able to register online for the 1st World Outgames at http://www.montreal2006.org/Default.aspx?NavNodeID=25&Name=Registration.

Over the last week, more than 200 people have contacted the Organising Committee wishing to register. More than half of those were athletes from the United States (members of teams in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver). The Organising Committee has also received a great number of requests for registration information from athletes in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and, of course, from across Canada.

THIRTY-THREE SPORTS

Over the week of 29 July to 5 August 2006, sport competitions in the following thirty-three sports will be held:

Aerobics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Bowling, Bridge, Cycling, Dancesport, Diving, Dragon Boat Regatta, Figure skating, Golf, Ice hockey, Karate, Marathon, Physique, Pool / Billiards, Powerlifting, Racquetball, Roller racing, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Synchronised swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Track and field, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo and Wrestling

All competition formats have now been finalised, with some modifications made in certain sports, as needed. The sanctioning process has also been completed with the various governing bodies of the different sports.

For the first time in the history of GLBT sporting competitions, one of the competitions will be registered in the international calendar: FISA (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron) will register our regatta in its calendar, thus making it a Federation-recognised event. As well, RCA (Rowing Canada Association) will also support the event. In another first for GLBT sport, Skate Canada, affiliated with the UIP (Union internationale de patinage) will sanction figure skating competitions between partners of the same sex.

EARLY REGISTRATION: AN UNBEATABLE PRICE

Those who register before 31 December 2004 will enjoy reduced registration fees and other benefits. There are three good reasons to register early: a guaranteed place in the activity of your choice, substantial savings on registration fees and a chance to win return airfare to the Outgames in Montréal, courtesy of Air Canada in monthly prize draws (until 31 December 2004).

The Early Registration fee is $225 CAD per person, or less than $165 USD or 135 EURO.

The fee includes:

• Participation in one sport or cultural activity
• Participation in the Opening Ceremonies
• Participation in the Closing Ceremonies
• One métro/bus pass
• Participation medal
• Free admission as a spectator to your selected sport or cultural activity
• Reduced admission fee to all other sports and cultural activities (as a spectator)
• Participant Souvenir Bag which includes: city and transit maps, official Outgames programme, souvenir poster, and Montréal & Québec tourist information brochures
• Reduced fee of $100 CAD for the "Right to Be Different" international conference on GLBT rights
• 20% discount on the Outgames souvenir book
• 20% discount for the official parties

(For more details on Early Registration, go to http://www.montreal2006.org/Default.aspx?NavNodeID=25&Name=Registration)

The Greater Montréal Hotel Association, one of the partners in the 1st World Outgames, has also agreed to offer room rates at extremely competitive prices for Outgames participants. These prices will be available at the end of the summer. As well, in the fall of 2004, Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 will be launching the Local Host programme, in which Montréal residents offer rooms in their homes to Outgames participants.

THE 1st WORLD OUTGAMES WILL WELCOME THE WORLD

"We will be offering the GLBT community around the world — and anyone who would like to participate — a festival on an unprecedented scale in an atmosphere of celebration and international friendship," concluded Lucie Duguay and Mark Tewksbury, the Co-Presidents of Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006. "With at least 16,000 participants and 250,000 visitors expected, everyone is sure to Catch the Montréal Feeling!"

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Press Conference at Montréal City Hall, held Monday, 31 May 2003 at 10:30.