Antwerp and Vancouver Named as OutGames Host Cities

Vice Mayor of Antwerp Ludo van Campenhout, delegation leader of the WOGA2013-team in Vancouver, expressed the support for the event from the City of Antwerp: ‘The entire city council supports this event in 2013. After the successful hosting of the Eurogames in 2007, we are confident that our city will be able to show the world magnificent games in 2013’.

‘One of the items very important to us throughout this process was the sound financials for the games. We also looked at how the Antwerp team will be incorporating and using the lessons learned from previous world and continental Outgames in hosting the event in 2013’ Wessel van Kampen, member of the Host selection Committee and co-President of GLISA international, states.

The 2nd World Outgames that will be held next year in Copenhagen (from July 25 till August 2, 2009) will precede the event in Antwerp in 2013.

In addition, Vancouver, BC, Canada was named as the host city for the 2011 North American OutGames, which will kick off with the opening ceremony at UBC on July 26th, 2011.

John Boychuck, President of the Vancouver Pride Society and Celebration Chair for the Vancouver Out-Games explained that the event is about promoting diversity behind the sporting side of things. It’s open to anyone, whether they are gay or straight. “It’s exciting as it promises to be as big as the (2010) Olympics in terms of giving back to the community”.

Being a Vancouver-based portal BQueer will keep everyone up-to-date as planning for the 2011 event shifts into high gear!

Information on the GLISA can be found an their website