Vancouver Awarded 2011 World Outgames

Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes are expected to pour into the city for the Outgames, which will feature a wide range of winter and summer sporting events, from alpine to land to water. "Between swimming and sailing, to the ground events which include everything from running to soccer and badminton, there is a really good variety in there, including ballroom dancing," Boychuk said.

The Outgames are open to everyone, not just gay people, although in reality, Boychuk estimated that about 90 per cent of the athletes are non-heterosexuals. The remaining 10 per cent are considered gay friendly.

The athletes alone are expected to bring about $12 million to the city, not to mention a likely boost in tourism.

In 2001 the Federation of Gay Games (the organizing body of the Gay Games) selected Montreal to host the 2006 Gay Games. However the Montreal Committee and the Federation were having a hard time agreeing on a contract. At stake was the control and scope of the event. In November 2003, Montreal walked away from negotiations and decided to hold their own international gay sporting event. A new governing body was formed called Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) It was originally called Rendez-Vous Montreal 2006, but was later changed to Outgames. In the meantime, the Federation of Gay Games named Chicago as the new host of the 2006 Gay Games.

The Federation of Gay Games had it right in 2001 when, after long deliberations, they decided Montreal was the best choice for 2006. While there are some receipts left to be counted, the rest of the ballots are in and it is official: The Outgames kicked the Gay Games' ass.  

I went to both events. I went to both opening ceremonies. I traveled around their respective towns and I took in a number of sports. And there is no question who put on the better event. Virtually everything about the Outgames was better than the Gay Games, from the opening ceremonies to presence in the city to organization of the sports to evening activities. My final grade for the Gay Games was a C+ (which, after experiencing Montreal, I now think was too generous); My final grade for the Outgames was an A-, which is about as good as you can possibly expect from a reporter who is digging his nose into every nook and cranny of the event.