Outgames hailed
as a major success

Organizers of the first World Outgames in Montreal were describing the gay sporting event as a major success on Saturday as the event wrapped up after more than a week of competition. ''It was a gigantic effort,'' Outgames copresident Mark Tewksbury told a news conference Saturday afternoon. ''The feedback we're receiving from our participants, which is really our first concern, has been overwhelmingly positive.''

In a statement released before the press conference, Tewksbury said the event had exceeded expectations. "We are very proud to announce that we have reached our participation and attendance targets, with more than half a million people at the sporting competitions and cultural activities [as well as] 18,599 participants from 111 countries as conference delegates, athletes, volunteers, or participants in the cultural program," he said.

Just prior to the start of competition, Outgames organizers hosted the International Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Human Rights. The event brought together 1,516 participants from every corner of the globe to discuss the worldwide situation of LGBT people. The 35 sporting categories drew 10,248 athletes, while 835 people came together for the cultural component of the program. Some 5,200 volunteers worked tirelessly at all the events.

''For us to have the visibility with the human rights and the sports, it seemed to raise the level of discussion about our issues, which are very serious,'' said Tewksbury. That point was underscored Friday when four nongay members of a Montreal-area water polo team were forced to withdraw from the games after they were heard making homophobic comments following a tournament competition, according to the Canadian Press.

One Quebec athlete said it was important to put the games in the right context. ''When you come from a country like France or England, [being gay is] not so bad,'' Sylvain, who declined to give his last name, told the CP. ''But there are people here from at least 70 countries where it's still criminal...and they were able to live in an open way [this week].''

The sophomore edition of the Outgames is slated to be held in Copenhagen in 2009.