Outgames 2006 ( Montreal I )

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Most of the participants in this humongous GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) sporting event called the Outgames 2006 arrived last Friday the 28th in Montreal, Quebec. Apparently there are more then 14.000 participants from well over a 112 countries. Got a message from Pim that due to heavy storms in Chicago about 400 flights were cancelled last Thursday and he would be stuck there till Saturday due to heavily oversold flights to Montreal.

We’re in a rather seedy part of town with loads of beggars and tramps plus an overabundance of sex shops but the apartments are really spacious and pleasant.
We registered for our specific sports (Bridge in my case) and bought tickets fro the grand finale of the swimming tournament Out Splash (a.k.a. Pink Flamingos in Sydney).
Had dinner in the evening in “The Gay Village”, full of drag queens and the like.

Saturday was spent exploring Plateau Mount Royal, the elevated district of Montreal, nice parks, small streets with tons of restaurants and street side café’s.
The main drag down is called Rue Saint-Denis with boutique stores, bars etc. The weather is great not too hot and a nice breeze.

After gathering at the Holland Garden, the place where the Dutch participants can congregate and be entertained by Dolly Bellefleur, a drag queen from Amsterdam, we all went to the Olympic Stadium where the opening of the Outgames took place. The Dutch by wearing the colour orange made a big impact upon entering the stadium, singing and waiving orange flags. We saw K.D. Lang, up close performing various country songs and Martha Wash doing her “It’s raining men” routine. Apart from several other artists we could also see Cirque de Soleil give a great show (they originated here). It was an absolute blast.
After one last drink in Rue Sainte Catherine it was definitely time to hit the hay.