North America OutGames 2011
Athletes from a number of Utah’s gay and gay-friendly sport groups will have a chance to play and compete against other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes this July at the North American OutGames, to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from July 25–31. This year’s games will feature 18 sports, and will include the Vancouver 2011 OutGames Human Rights Conference. The games also culminate in Vancouver’s Gay Pride Week and Pride Parade on July 31.
The OutGames is the second of two international gay and lesbian sports celebrations. It was created after the Federation of Gay Games moved their 7th Gay Games from Montreal to Chicago in 2006, following differences with the planning committee in Montreal, the city that the federation had originally awarded the Gay Games. The Montreal committee then formed Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association and the Montreal sporting event continued as the first World OutGames. The second World OutGames took place in 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark. World OutGames III will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, Aug. 3–11, 2013.
“We really look forward to welcoming everyone to Vancouver for the 2011 North America OutGames,” said Bradley Bostock, vice president of GLISA North America and Host City relations director. “Vancouver is going to be where it is at for the LGBTQ community this summer.”
GLISA created The North American OutGames as a regional continental sporting event one year after the first World OutGames to help promote the World OutGames and regional continental competitions. Calgary was the host city for the first North American OutGames, and an estimated 400 athletes attended the event in 2007.
“GLISA is made up of five continental organizations,” said Bostock. “If someone wants to come from Mexico or Australia, they can participate, but the North American OutGames is being marketed primarily to the United States and Canada.”
Special events and areas planned for the Vancouver 2011 OutGames are a women-only zone, queer and family-friendly spaces, a job fair, the Miss GLISA Pageant and a week of Pride activities. Team Vancouver will also host specific events during the OutGames and Vancouver Pride Week.
Sports at the North American OutGames include water polo, softball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming, track and field, mountain biking, badminton, hockey, golf, 10-pin bowling, dance sport, a walk/run event, and an eco challenge competition. Dragon boating, a race with 10 paddlers in one boat on a 200-meter course, may also be an official sport depending on how many entrants sign up. Poker, women’s roller derby and the Alpine Marathon are under development.
Many venues chosen to hold specific events are the same sporting locations where Olympic athletes competed during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Early registration discounts for OutGames participants will be offered until Feb. 28. Athletes with Team Utah will also receive a GLISA member discount. Additional group discounts apply for every 10 registrants.
Cancellations must be made in writing by April 30, 2011, and a cancellation fee will apply. Transferring registration is allowed by fax or mailing the transfer information to a specific OutGames address available on their website.
The Vancouver 2011 OutGames Human Rights Conference is a three-day event that will be held at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, July 26–28. While the conference is still accepting proposals for panels, and speakers have not been announced, the focus of the conference will revolve around specific themes, including youth, seniors/aging, health and well-being, law/jurisprudence, workplace issues, spirituality, education and sports.
The conference also plans on holding a job fair on July 29, and to give two human rights awards – one to the individual, couple or family, and the second to the corporation, association or federation that has made a significant contribution to promoting gay and lesbian rights. Nominations are being taken until March 15, and forms are available on the games’ website.
Past conferences at OutGames events produced the Montreal Declaration (2006), the Calgary Blueprint (2007) and the Copenhagen Best Practices (2009), and this conference is expected to continue creating positive campaigns or initiatives that apply to the gay and lesbian community as a whole.
Registration discounts for the conference also apply until Feb. 28 for early registration and for those who have a GLISA membership. Sponsorships are still being solicited by the North American OutGames and Bostock also expects concert headliners to be announced shortly.
For more information, visit vancouver2011outgames.com.