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No regrets over Outgames deficit, organizers say


Guest Warwick Green

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Guest Warwick Green

I think the public generally are not anti-gay and support in large measure laws that prohibit discrimination against G&Ls. However, very few are willing to shell out money to watch homosexuals play volleyball.

No regrets over Outgames deficit, organizers say

The Montreal Outgames remained unapologetic Monday, despite ringing up a $5.3-million deficit.

“There are no regrets about the Games,” Marielle Dupré, co-chair with former Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury, said Monday. “Montreal needs this kind of international event to position itself in the market.”

Dupré said the Outgames owes only $2.2 million to its suppliers – the rest of the debt is largely government loans – and blamed Quebec for botching organizers’ efforts to pay their bills.

Quebec covered some big-ticket items, like the Palais des congrès and Olympic Stadium, rather than hand over cash to the Outgames to settle part of every bill owing, she said.

“The small suppliers that helped us will be penalized by this action,” Dupré said.

She also criticized Municipal Affairs Minister Nathalie Normandeau for talking to the media about the Outgames financial shortcomings.

“We had an agreement with Quebec that we were not supposed to talk with the media.”...

Dupré said the Games were delivered “as planned, and on budget. It was the lack of public support, and the competing Gay Games in Chicago July 15-22 that spoiled things, she said.

Organizers were only able to sell 3,000 tickets (a two-for-one special) of the 35,000 tickets for the final ceremonies, Dupré said.

“We thought we would build momentum for the event, but participation by the Montreal public for the closing just wasn’t there.”

Dupré said she hopes to meet with Normandeau this week to resolve the deficit issue.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news...3ab&k=95322

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