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JULY15 2011
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Let The Games Begin!
Second GLISA North America Outgames hits Vancouver, Portland represents
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B A ST ILL E DAY
CELEBRATION!!!
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SA M H U M A N S & THE LIOUT
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D A N CE PARTY
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DJ ERIK BEATS!
EVENTS INCLUDE'
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Portland OR
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^ 5 K Wine Run!
^ Bike Scavenger
Hunt!
-5 Sabering!
■i Grape
Stompin’!
....and MORE!
* We a rc collecting food for O R E G O N F O O D B A N K ?
BRING 2 NONPERISHABLE
FOOD ITEMS!!!
Vancouver, British Columbia cemented
itself a bastion for competitive sports in 2010,
with the Olympic W inter Games in W his
tler. The fact that the city is consistently
hailed among the most beautiful destinations
on the planet didn’t hurt either, as images of
arborous mountains, the English Bay and
Vancouver Harbor were thrust into living
rooms around the globe.
It makes sense, then, that the Second Gay
and Lesbian International Sports Association
North America Outgames be held in the Big
Couve. Come July 25-31, tens o f thousands of
LGBTQ_athletes from around the world de
scend on the region not just to compete in
these games, not just to revel in the excitement
generated by attending the competitions as
fans, hut also to take part in Vancouver’s re
nowned Pride Week celebrations.
This is going to be huge.
Don’t confuse, however, the recent Gay
Games in 2010 in Cologne, Germany with
the Outgames franchise. W hile similar in
obvious ways like affording L G B T Q athletes
of all talents to compete with and against
each other in a supportive environment,
North America Outgames board chair John
Boychuk says Outgames focuses more on
friendly sport and individual accomplish
ment. The Outgames also distinguishes itself
by virtue of a spotlight on human rights, with
a three-day conference smack dab in the
middle of all that gamin’.
“Outgames recognizes that human rights
play an important part of visible community
inclusiveness, and the ability to demolish
barriers that are part o f today’s world,” Boy
chuk explains. “This allows for a greater cross
section of people to demonstrate their m en
tal skills beyond that of the body and its
physical limits.”
The conference is designed to recognize,
address and work to address issues facing the
LGBTQ_ community such as discrimination
by way of youth bullying, workplace harass
ment, spirituality, education and more. Repre
sentatives from every continent are scheduled
to be on hand to facilitate panel discussions.
The first World Outgames were in M on
treal in 2006, while the inaugural North
America Outgames were held in Calgary, Al
berta the following year. Calgary’s games
boasted more than 12,000 participants
throughout the three-day human rights con
ference, 35-plus sporting events and 12 days
of cultural activities. Boychuk says that as the
continental version of these games continues
to build its brand, the 2011 Outgames is look
ing at nearly twice the level o f participation
that Calgary saw in 2007, with a greater em
phasis on the diversity in the types o f sporting
SUBMITTED PHOTO
BY RYAN J. PRADO
“It’s nice to know that we have so
many outstanding LGBTQ athletes. I
hope to be challenged and make new
friends from around the world."
-ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ
events offered. In addition, Boychuk expects
athletes from as far away as Japan, Wales,
France, Germany, New Zealand, South
America and the United States.
Some familiar faces for Portland LG B TQ .
sports enthusiasts are making the trek to rep
resent the Rose City, too. Squeaking sneakers
on the tennis court are two o f Team Portland
Tennis’ finest, Scott Reis and Collin Koo.
Reis, 36, competed in the 2009 Outgames
in Copenhagen, Denmark, in track and field.
At the North America Outgames this year,
he’ll play in Division C for tennis.
“I am a competitive person and am very
focused on the court, but love the social aspect
off the court and meeting new people during
these tournaments,” Reis says. “W in or lose, I
think good sportsmanship is key.”
Koo, 40, is a newcomer to Portland, having
just recently moved here from Vancouver, B.C.
He is competing in tennis in the singles and
doubles Open Division, and also plans on net
ting more time with competitive badminton.
“I t’s definitely an im portant sporting and
social outlet for our community,” Koo says of
Outgames. “It gives me an excuse to visit my
hometown, and many of my friends are par
ticipating in and even volunteering at the
games. Scott and I play in different divisions
so we won’t compete against or with each
other, but I’ll be cheering for him enthusias
tically because we are good friends and Port
land teammates.”
Alejandro M artinez, a soccer player for the
past four years with Portland’s Netrippers
Football Club, is traveling to Vancouver with
his team, Stonewall, with the hopes o f get
ting Outgames gold. It wouldn’t be the first
time, as Stonewall— a team handpicked for
the games—went to Copenhagen in ’07 in
Division 1 and went undefeated, returning
home with the gold medal.
“I find it intriguing to compete amongst
other well-trained athletes and to be sur
rounded by other LGBTQ_athletes,” explains
Martinez, 26. “I t’s nice to know that we have
so many outstanding LGBTQ^ athletes. I
hope to be challenged and make new friends
from around the world.”
Making friends is easy when you’re landing
in the nexus o f Vancouver Pride week. And
just because the games are almost here doesn’t
mean you’ve missed out on your chance to at
tend, or even compete. Registration for the
larger team tournaments and continental cup
challenges has now closed, but individual
events remain open until the start of the games
to encourage everyone who decides to come to
Vancouver at the last minute. Events that of
ficials will accept registrations for right up to
the day of include the Eco Challenge, Poker,
the 10K Run/4K Walk, Golf, DanceSport,
Track and Field and the Vertical 6K Grouse-
to-Peak Challenge.
The outlying contingents during the O u t
games this year are just as enticing for pro
spective attendees and competing athletes.
The Outgames Live Showcase series on July
28 at the three-story supper club Five Sixty
features performances by Canadian diva
Carole Pope, Peter Breeze and others. On
July 30, the Closing Ceremonies Party gets
things beat-bumpin’ with entertainment by
international chart-topping dance-poppers
Ace o f Base, Dragonette and more at the
Plaza of Nations.
Adding even more pride to the festivities
is the Queer in Vancouver and Pride in Art
festivals, the Celebration o f Light Interna
tional Fireworks Com petition and Canada
Place— one o f the city’s most iconic tourist
spots— lighting up its sails in rainbow colors
for the entire week.
In short, this could be the LGBTQ_party
o f the year.
“The end o f July in Vancouver is definitely
going to be Gay 8.0!” says Barb Snelgrove,
Outgames’ communications director o f the
event’s evolution. “Vancouver is ready to roll
out the lavender carpet for all our out-of-
town guests.” J#]
The second G L IS A N orth America Outgames
run July 2 5 -3 1 in Vancouver, B.C. For registra
tion, hotel accommodations, a n d other general
info., v isit vancouver2011outgames.com.