News
2006-11-15
Montreal Outgames
shows large deficit
The organizers of
the Montreal Outgames said Monday they have no regrets
regarding the $5.3 million they owe government
officials
The organizers of
the Montreal Outgames said Monday they have no regrets
regarding the $5.3 million they owe government
officials and suppliers. Marielle Dupéré,
cochair of the games with former Olympic swimmer Mark
Tewksbury, said that the city of Montreal needed an event
similar to the Outgames to "position itself in the market,"
the Montreal Gazette reported Monday.
Dupéré
said that the Outgames owes $2.2 million to its suppliers,
with the rest owed to pay back government loans. She
blamed Quebec for hindering the organization's efforts
to pay the bills. Instead of directly handing the
funds for the event, Quebec's government footed the
bill for space such as Olympic Stadium and Palais des
Congrès.
"The small
suppliers that helped us will be penalized by this
action," Dupéré said.
She also
criticized municipal affairs minister Nathalie Normandeau
for exposing the group's financial problems to the
news media while, Dupéré said, there had
been an agreement not to discuss the operation.
A spokesperson
for Normandeau told the Gazette that Quebec has
relieved the Outgames of a $1.4 million loan to help
pay off its other creditors and suppliers. (The
Advocate)
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