Montreal won over Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta to host the 2006 Gay Games, which organizers hope will attract more than 200,000 visitors.
City officials anticipate that visitors will pump $150 million into the regional economy during the Games, which will run July 30 to Aug. 5. Patrick Desmarais, past president of the Quebec Gay Chamber of Commerce said, “we know that people who will come here in 2006 will stay for 10 to 14 days”.
Dozens of gay business leaders and community embers applauded and cheered Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque at city hall yesterday as he announced that delegates in Johannesburg, South Africa had awarded the Games to Montreal on the first ballot.
He said, “Montreal’s reputation as a tolerant, welcoming and safe city has been confirmed once again”.
More than 24,000 athletes will participate in 30 sports.
