BC Govt Backs Out of Vancouver Outgames

The British Columbia government has backed out of a verbal commitment to financially support the 2011 Outgames in Vancouver, Canada's Xtra reports. Government officials initially promised to contribute $400,000 to the event, according to Outgames chairman John Boychuk. That commitment was then reduced to $150,000 to $200,000. Now they say, "'We can't continue to commit to any amount,'" Boychuk says.

Provincial officials say the economic climate has caused them to rethink their community grants, placing focus on low-income and disabled residents and programs that provide food, shelter, and support for at-risk individuals.

Boychuk says Outgames organizers have instead sought out a corporate partner, International Conference Services, which will no provide secretarial, sponsorship, accommodation, registration, and accounting services for the event. ICS will also assist the Outgames organizers in their pursuit of civic and provincial grants.

"We're taking a very prudent approach," says Dan Quon, president of Team Vancouver. "We know what happened in Montreal. We certainly don't want to repeat that." Organizers of Montreal's Outgames in 2006 finished the event with a $5.3 million deficit.

Read Xtra's full story here.