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Montréal Outgames: An inspired vision of LGBT Sport
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Written
by Steven Leclerc, May 1st, 2005
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Sports Department of Montréal 2006
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When you think of Montréal, the
first things that come to mind are its charm and hospitality,
its vibrant cultural life and spectacular cuisine. You may also
be thinking of frolicking amidst the unending throngs of
beautifully fashionable people strolling up and down St-Denis
Street, or those shopping in the city’s historic neighborhoods;
areas like Old Montréal and Le Plateau, for instance, help
generate this city’s distinct European feel.
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Among gay and lesbian travelers, Montréal is also well-known for
its decidedly festive atmosphere. Everybody knows that throwing
a party here, whether for a thousand or 100,000 people, is
serious business—well, serious, that is, until the late hours of
the following morning.
Beyond the sultry images of Montréal’s notorious Joie de Vivre,
however, lies the less well-known passion for living that
extends far into the world of sports. Montréal prides itself in
its ability to organize and host world-class sporting events and
provide every facility to do so. One need only look to the
city’s well-maintained Olympic facilities (stadium, pools and
man-made rowing basin), the famous Formula 1 Race Track or the
Masters Tennis Stadium, to find landmarks that highlight
Montréal’s fond reverence for anything sport.
Recognition of LGBT Sports |
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Understanding that the global sporting
world still remains a staunchly homophobic environment, I asked Mark
Tewksbury, openly-gay Olympic Gold-medal Champion and Montréal
2006’s Co-President, how this sports-like atmosphere in the city can
relate to an LGBT
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event like the Outgames and its
16,000 participants.
“Montreal is an extremely open and tolerant city. Right from the
start, the Montréal 2006 organizing committee saw an opportunity
to capitalize on this fact, to reach out and build bridges
between mainstream sports organizations and the LGBT community.”
Proud of the city’s remarkable openness, the former Olympian
also mentions that “members of our community worldwide want to
bring down barriers and build acceptance for the LGBT community
in sports. By furthering Montréal’s natural tendencies for
openness and acceptance, we have been able to focus on this goal
and the Outgames will be a key moment to ensure greater
recognition for our community’s achievements,” he proudly adds.
It is no coincidence that these principles of openness and
bridge-building are shared by many in the international LGBT
community. Just this past year, GLISA – the Gay and Lesbian
International Sport Association, was created to espouse and
promote these ideals. Thus, GLISA’s rapidly expanding membership
has decided to sponsor Montréal 2006’s LGBT sports and cultural
festival, and in so doing Montréal is hosting the 1st World
Outgames.
To reflect this principle of reaching out to the mainstream
sports movement, Montréal 2006 set up shop in offices next door
to Sport Québec – the hub of both Montréal’s and the province of
Québec’s amateur sports milieu. In fact, when doing so in 2002,
Montréal 2006’s organizing committee was welcomed quickly as it
began operations in space located at the Olympic Stadium built
for the 1976 Games.
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There, where all of
Québec’s sports and leisure federations are headquartered, Montréal
2006 assembled a sport staff with the knowledge and experience
needed to build the required bridges and develop a sports program
worthy of recognition and awe.
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Still, one wonders: has Montréal’s Outgames
strategy yet accomplished this task? Montréal 2006’s Director of Sports,
Josée Généreux – an experienced competitive cyclist, coach, official and
sports administrator – thinks so as she proudly states that, out of the 35
disciplines on Montréal 2006’s roster, at least 30 will be officially
sanctioned by provincial, national or international mainstream sports
federations.
“We wanted to offer a complete spectrum of athletic possibilities for
participants at the Montréal Outgames,” she says. “It is in this way that we
feel we can exceed anyone’s expectations. Participants may register as a
beginner, intermediate or advanced athlete in their category and so, whether
someone wants to simply participate, have fun or compete amongst friends,
everyone will be well served. The Montréal 2006 sports programme is open to
all, regardless of ability, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, HIV
status or nationality. Every individual is entitled to the same quality of
service and attention. In addition, athletes that feel more competitive, who
set more stringent goals for themselves or even hope to break records, will
be able to register their performances as a result of the recognised
sanctions we have negotiated to date. This is a remarkable achievement and
speaks volumes of the progress we are making in having the value of LGBT
participation in sport duly recognised.”
Considering the record number of sanctions already secured, Montréal will
stand as the first LGBT games to achieve such an extensive degree of
acknowledgment and quality of competition. Outgames’ LGBT sporting events
will be listed with all of the sanctioning bodies, further ensuring
visibility for competing athletes and an appreciation of their success.
International Status, Greater Significance
Exciting and new, the Montréal 2006 Outgames will also see the first-ever
LGBT Rowing competition registered in the international roster of events
endorsed by the FISA (International Rowing Federation). Adding, then, to the
competitive climate of the Rowing regattas, competitions will take place at
the Olympic Basin on Île Sainte-Hélène; breathtaking and splendid, the Basin
is located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River where one cannot help but
revel in the downtown skyline Montréal offers, gently decorating the
background of this site. The Basin is the only rowing facility of its kind
in North America and was constructed, like the Olympic Stadium, in 1976.
Modern and well-maintained, it is used regularly and often sees visitors
amid the stands that dot its two kilometers length. Filtered water fills the
Basin and an indoor training facility welcomes any competitor. A highlight
for the Outgames, Rowing, Triathlon and Dragon Boat competitions held in
this facility will leave participants and spectators feeling as though they
are indeed at the Olympics!
In yet another first, Montréal 2006 has also obtained sanctions from Skate
Canada, Canada’s Figure Skating Federation, for its figure skating
competitions. The Federation will sanction all components of the Outgames
Skate program, including same-sex doubles. Consequently, judging will
conform to the latest national and international standards.
Similarly, several other sport competitions at the Outgames will be
registered by national sports bodies, including the Aerobics and Track and
Field heats as well. Provincial bodies will sanction many others. Events
will be held using certified officials recognized at their respective levels
and will meet the standards established for mainstream national and
international competitions.
Eight New Sports Disciplines
Montréal 2006 will host a record number of 35 sports disciplines. Comparing
the Outgames to the 2002 Games in Sydney, one will find several new sports
on the roster. Beach Volleyball, Dragon Boat Regattas, Roller Racing (roller
blading), Racquetball, Rowing and Synchronized Swimming will accompany a
roster of competitions comparable to that of other International LGBT
events. In addition, Handball and Cross-Country Running events have just
been added to the Outgames program.
More details: 1st World Outgames Montreal 2006
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