Montreal Splits From FGG -- Will Hold Separate Gay Games
Tue. November 11, 2003 12:00 AM by 365gay.com
Montreal, Quebec -
Montreal is severing all ties with the Federation of Gay Games and will mount its own games in 2006, Mark Tewksbury, the co-president of Montreal 2006 announced Tuesday afternoon.
The city had been chosen by the FGG to host the '06 games but in recent weeks has been at odds with the international body, based in San Francisco, over control of the event.
On the weekend, emergency negotiations to patch up the differences ended with the talks breaking down and the Montreal organizing committee walking out.
Earlier today, the FGG gave the Montreal officials until Wednesday afternoon to toe the line or be removed as host of the 2006 games.
“10 November 2003 will remain for me, and for thousands of gay and lesbian athletes around the world, a day of mourning," said Tewksbury, an Olympic gold medalist, accusing the FGG of failing to bargain in good faith.
"Montreal’s opportunity to bring forward the ideals of participation, inclusion and personal best as put forward by Tom Waddell have just been crushed by the members of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) who have, after two years of negotiations, rejected Montreal’s final offer to present the Games” said Mark Tewksbury
"We realize now that it is time to break with the past and with an organization that ultimately represents little more than itself, with only 21 of the 1000 sports teams around the world being FGG members," said Tewsbury in a statement.
"Our event will take place without the FGG” declared Tewksbury. “Our vision remains the same. We will offer the best sport games the gay and lesbian athletes of the world have ever seen.”
The announcement leaves the FGG with two major crises. First, it must find a new host city for the 2006 games. Among the possibilities that have been mentioned is Atlanta. Second, it must also contend with two sets of games in 2006, likely to be the greater problem as it forces teams around the world to decide which they will support.
©365Gay.com® 2003
The city had been chosen by the FGG to host the '06 games but in recent weeks has been at odds with the international body, based in San Francisco, over control of the event.
On the weekend, emergency negotiations to patch up the differences ended with the talks breaking down and the Montreal organizing committee walking out.
Earlier today, the FGG gave the Montreal officials until Wednesday afternoon to toe the line or be removed as host of the 2006 games.
“10 November 2003 will remain for me, and for thousands of gay and lesbian athletes around the world, a day of mourning," said Tewksbury, an Olympic gold medalist, accusing the FGG of failing to bargain in good faith.
"Montreal’s opportunity to bring forward the ideals of participation, inclusion and personal best as put forward by Tom Waddell have just been crushed by the members of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) who have, after two years of negotiations, rejected Montreal’s final offer to present the Games” said Mark Tewksbury
"We realize now that it is time to break with the past and with an organization that ultimately represents little more than itself, with only 21 of the 1000 sports teams around the world being FGG members," said Tewsbury in a statement.
"Our event will take place without the FGG” declared Tewksbury. “Our vision remains the same. We will offer the best sport games the gay and lesbian athletes of the world have ever seen.”
The announcement leaves the FGG with two major crises. First, it must find a new host city for the 2006 games. Among the possibilities that have been mentioned is Atlanta. Second, it must also contend with two sets of games in 2006, likely to be the greater problem as it forces teams around the world to decide which they will support.
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.