Organizers of
the World Outgames Montreal said Thursday that Martina
Navratilova will participate in the International Conference
on LGBT Human Rights, which will be held for three
days before the opening ceremony of the games.
The world-renowned tennis champion and sports
legend will present the Declaration of Montreal with
Olympic medalist and Outgames copresident Mark
Tewksbury at the opening ceremony on July 29.
"I am thrilled to be involved with the Outgames.
Over the past three years, the Montreal organization
has built a new model for LGBT sport and cultural
events, one that honors the past, speaks to the present, and
stands ready to embrace the future," Navratilova said
in a statement. "This model will result in the
largest LGBT sport and cultural event ever held. This
is why I am so proud to be part of this important
development in the history of the international LGBT community."
The International Conference on LGBT Human
Rights focuses on affirming LGBT rights as an
international standard in every country of the world.
To this end, a final resolution, titled the Declaration of
Montreal, will be adopted at the close of the
conference and presented at the Opening Ceremony of
the first World Outgames. The Declaration of Montreal will
then be introduced in the United Nations and other
international forums.
Navratilova's stellar career was crowned
with one record-breaking success after another. She
won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 40 Grand Slam
doubles titles (31 women's doubles and nine mixed doubles),
and the women's singles title at Wimbledon a record
nine times. She was inducted into the International
Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. (Advocate.com)
