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In Memory of Gerry Hail
We received the sad news that Gerry Hail, Copenhagens Outgames Communications Director, past away last weekend due to a heart attack. Gerry was only 51 years old.
We will remember Gerry as a vibrant, enthusiastic man, full of ideas and energy to promote the 2nd World Outgames in Copenhagen last Summer.
Our deepest condolances go out to Gerry's husband Jesper Corfitzen, his family and his friends.
Dear Gerry, it was our pleasure knowing you, it was great working together, we will miss you, your great smile, personality and dance moves!
Uffe Albaek states: "Gerry was the best communication director you could have and, on top of that, the best friend as well. We will all miss him deeply." On behalf of the Board of GLISA International - Julia Applegate, Wessel van Kampen
GLISA: Your input is valued: One World Event in 2018
To the members of GLISA International and the GLISA Continental Associations:
Since our first successful event in Montreal in 2006, GLISA International (Gay Lesbian International Sports Association) and the Continental Associations (CA's) have been hosting successful events in Calgary, Melbourne, and Copenhagen. In 2011 our CA's will host events in Wellington and Vancouver and in 2013; the 3rd World Outgames will be hosted in Antwerp.
All of our events are based on the same three distinguished components: Sports, Culture and Human Rights. These components are the foundation of GLISA's mission to our members, partners and the world LGBT community.
We have received requests and questions from our members, our partners and the international LGBT community, to investigate the possibility of creating one world event based on the three GLISA components Sports, Culture and Human Rights. The community of people who have expressed this desire would like to have one, unified, quadrennial, world LGBT sport, culture and human rights event, rather than continuing with two events every four years (the World Outgames sanctioned by GLISA and the Gay Games sanctioned by the FGG).
The Board of GLISA International believes that our members are the backbone of this organization. We want to respond and act on the requests and desires of our members and partners in what we do, and especially in the important decisions regarding the future of global, quadrennial LGBT sporting events.
As you may have heard from your Continental Association, your own team or read in the press or blogs, representatives of GLISA International have been in discussions with representatives of the FGG, by teleconference and in person, to discuss the possibility of a cooperative effort between GLISA and the FGG in hosting a joint World Games in 2018.
As you can imagine, it will be a lengthy and challenging process to create one new global event, but we feel confident that it is in the best interest of the world community to work toward this goal.
We need your help and support to reach this goal:
We need to hear your thoughts, ideas and concerns on working with the FGG to create One World Event based on the three components of Sports, Culture and Human Rights.
We have prepared a quick and easy to fill out survey for you that will not take longer than 10 minutes of your time. Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRZLQRV to see the questions and provide us with your input.
The survey will be open the entire months of May and June 2010.
The results of the comments and ideas we receive will be published on the GLISA international website: www.GLISA.org as soon as they can be compiled.
Thank you for investing your time and supporting GLISA. The GLISA International Board of Directors
Antwerp – Antwerp City Council to fully support 3rd World Outgames in 2013!
The board of directors of the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) is proud to announce that last Friday, March 26, the entire City Council of Antwerp, the host of the 3rd World Outgames in 2013, agreed to an extensive support package for the event. The City Council has approved extensive support in the areas of logistics, infrastructure, but also marketing and communication, culture, sport, diversity and tourism.
Members of Board of World Outgames Antwerpen 2013, together with GLISA representatives at Antwerps Historic city hall
Bart Abeel, chairman of the Board of World Outgames Antwerpen 2013 vzw states: 'This city council announcement is a very important milestone in our journey towards the World Outgames in 2013. We are now very confident that this partnership and very substantial support will ensure us to deliver a great momentum to the city and our region. Therefore, it was with great joy and pride we received together with the Mayor and his Aldermen the presidents of GLISA to formalise the legacy transfer'.
The announcement was made by the mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens during a press conference in Antwerp's historic city hall in the presence of important members of the City council: Ludo Van Campenhout, Alderman for Sports, Monica De Coninck, Alderman for Diversity and Alderman Philip Heylen, Alderman for Tourism.
Wessel van Kampen, male co-President of GLISA International states: 'We are extremely happy that our partner in Antwerp is fully supported by the entire city council. Copenhagen has shown that the support by local government is key for a project like World Outgames'.
Julia Applegate, GLISA's female co-President states: "This weekend was planned to transfer the legacy from the 1st and 2nd World Outgames in Montreal and Copenhagen to the team in Antwerp. Team members from both events came to Antwerp to share their lessons learnt and pitfalls to avoid. I think it was an extremely important weekend for all. We feel confident the Antwerp team can now make a flying start'.
During the weekend another important announcement was made, Alfacamgroup (capturing more then 50% of the television rights of the Olympics Games), one of the sponsors of the 2013 event in Antwerp and owner of EXQI commercial television network, will provide one hour of television coverage every day during the event and in addition, leading up to the event, several hundreds of television promo's will be shown.
The Board of GLISA International Votes for One Quandrennial Event in 2018!
Statement approved by the Board of GLISA International on 19 March 2010:
Following a meeting of the Co-Presidents of the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA International) and the Federation of GayGames on 5 March, 2010, in Manchester, UK, to discuss the future of worldwide LGBT sport, culture and human rights events, the Board of GLISA International affirms that One Quadrennial Event in 2018 is our joint goal. Sports, Culture, and Human Rights will be essential components of the joint event in 2018, as they have been in the past.
Preserving the legacy and accomplishments and honouring the past will be key aspects, while evolving to reflect the continual world societal changes.
We see a number of steps needed to move in this direction:
• Both organizations have committed to supporting and participating in the upcoming scheduled events: FGG: GayGames in Cologne, Germany and Cleveland, USA; GLISA: Continental Outgames in Wellington, New Zealand and Vancouver, Canada in 2011 and the 3rd World Outgames in Antwerp, Belgium in 2013.
• More discussions and collaboration are needed between the two organizations and all the members and communities which we all represent.
• A joint taskforce comprised of members from each organization will be set up between the two organizations to continue the discussions required to carry out our intended joint goal of one quadrennial event in 2018.
We, the board of GLISA International recognize that this is an important step to ensure that the legacy of global LGBT Sports, Culture and Human Rights events continues to grow and reflect the desire of our international community.
Antwerp to Host the 3rd World Outgames in 2013
GLISA International (Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association) is proud to announce the awarding for the 3rd World Outgames scheduled for 2013 to Antwerp, Belgium.
Antwerp was selected as the preferred host city on October 25 at the 2008 Delegate Congress in Vancouver by the members of GLISA International and the Continental Associations. The world economic crisis delayed the completion of the details.  
Jan de Wiew, team member of WOGA2013 (World Outgames Antwerpen 2013 vzw) and one of the initiators of bringing the event to Antwerp states: 'We have been working on this since Antwerp successfully hosted the EuroGames in 2007. The 3rd World Outgames will yet again show Antwerp's capabilities in hosting attractive events, not only for our own LGBT community, but for all in Antwerp. This event in 2013 will of course be based on the three equally important components that distinguish all GLISA events: Sports, Culture and Human Rights'.
Tatjana Eggeling, Director GLISA International for Europe states: 'We are very happy to see that the City of Antwerp, the Province of Antwerp and the Flemish Government have taken partnership in the project and will provide both financial and in kind support now and in the years to come'.
Signature takes place in the same week Wonderful Copenhagen will announce a positive financial result from the 2nd World Outgames. Copenhagen continues the legacy of financially successful Continental Outgames in both Calgary, Canada (2007) and Melbourne, Australia (2008).
Wessel van Kampen, male co-President of GLISA International states: 'As 2009 comes to a close, GLISA International is proud to report continental Outgames will take place in Vancouver Canada and Wellington, New Zealand in 2011, followed by the 3rd World Outgames in Antwerp in 2013.
Copenhagen 2009 - The World Outgames as an entrepreneurial and attitude forming strategy.
By Uffe Elbaek - CEO of World Outgames
Just under a month after the rainbow flags were taken down from Copenhagen City Hall, the University and the Cathedral, we can start finalizing the accounts for World Outgames 2009. What has Copenhagen got out of the notable financial and policital investment that the event was and still is? Yes - what does such an international sport, cultural and human rights event mean for the participants, the city and the local LGBT communicty (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)? Click here for full article.
Copenhagen a Smashing Success!
26. August 2009 Photographer: Frons Dryer
 Copenhagen World Outgames 2009 lived up to its promise and left the more than 5,500 participants from 92 countries, and the more than 200,000 tourists and Copenhageners who also took part, with praise and admiration for the week long festival of sports, culture and human rights.
From the opening ceremony at City Hall square - where participants were greeted with cheers and applause from more than 25,000 spectators - to the emotional closing at the same square, where at least 40,000 were on hand to celebrate Copenhagen Pride, World Outgames 2009 delivered more than 2200 program activities that inspired, entertained and left nearly everyone feeling happy to have been a part of it.
"Everything was absolutely fantastic," said GLISA co-president Julia Applegate in an email to organizers after the event.
"I saw opera from Mexico City, dance from Tel Aviv, disco from Antwerp, feminist rock from Melbourne, drag king theatre from Copenhagen. I attended a world class human rights conference with leading academics, activists and agitators from all corners of the world. I participated in an extremely well run swim meet…I had a blast and I am honored to have been part of it," wrote Julia Applegate. Click here to read full report.
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