Everyone's experience of the Outgames is different from everyone else's. For those who were there, what was your experience of the Games?

[ August 06, 2006, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: m1 ]

Simply amazing. I enjoyed all the aspects of these Games. I am looking forward to Copenhagen:
Opening and Closing Ceremonies - (A) - On my feet the entire time and felt as if we had the best "seat" in the house.
My individual sport (Tennis) - (A-)
Other Competitions and Venues - (B+) (Diving, Swimming, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey)
Outside Fun and Activites - (A-) Details I can't get into here but let's just say it's not a bad place to spend a few days. And we took a day trip to Quebec City and that was simply amazing!
Volunteers - (A) - This nice female volunteer provided me with food and water after a three hour match in the middle of the heat, extremely friendly at every venue!
Transportation - ( - We rented a car so we only used the train to go to opening and closing cermonies
Accreditation - (A) - In and out in no time
Signage - (A) Knew we were at the right venues for the sports we were looking to watch.
People of Montreal - (A+) - From the couple that rented us their house, to the wait staff at the Tapas Restaurant who accomodated us right after the rain storm came, and to the local grocer who was always happy to see us (we did by a lot of wine during our visits), I didn't meet a nasty person the entire trip. And my French, as my friends have pointed out, is pathetic to non existent so for all those people to still be so nice to me its pretty amazing!

Not being able to see the results of this poll without voting is pretty lame...

Sorry - I'll report on the results at some point tomorrow. Presently, the A's are by far the plurality.

Like has been said, these games were absolutely outstanding and top notch. I think Cyd put it best when he says that the Montreal games have now set the standard by which all others will be judged.

Other than French being used as the predominant language (let's face it - most people in the world have some working knowledge of english - not French) - which for those who are not familiar with the language politics in Canada, I am sure that this was the result of the Province of Quebec making funding availble to the games, being contingent on the use of French as the primary language) - please refer to the language laws of Canada/the province of Quebec.

Copenhagen has a big reputation to live up to! But, I am sure with the help of GLISA, they will do it!

Of the 23 votes so far, 10 are A, 4 are B and 4 are C. There were five votes for Ds and Fs; but, I'd bet most of my life savings these are Gay Games supporters, still pissed at the Outgames, who are trying to drag them down.

That's the problem with this type of poll -- you can't control who can vote. I could vote if I wanted to, and I wasn't even there.

That is true - but I would suspect that the same thing could happen in the Gaygames voting as well. Overall, it still looks like Cyd's observations are reflected in the overall voting.

I have to admit that I am quite surprised that ANYONE would give it an F, but who knows - maybe a couple people had absolutely terrible experiences. I know that even at the best of some events, I have at times been the only person that seemed to have a bad time. However, I wouldn't ever extrapolate my experience to everyone else...

It's the anti-Outgames Gay Games supporters voting, probably none of whom went to the event, no doubt. That's the way many of them have become at this point, unfortunately - more interested in tearing than down the Outgames than anything else. It's sad.

Cyd - since you know who's voted and how, why don't you just post the list or make the poll completely open so that people know that their votes will be seen by others.

I don't really get the purpose of the poll itself on a topic like this that has polarized people so much. So few people are voting that the results don't mean anything.

Somehow I get the feeling that if the poll was indicating the Outgames were a disaster, many GG supporters on this discussion board would somehow see the poll as relevant and valid, even with such a small number of votes. Maybe I am wrong but just a hunch.

Actually, we have no idea who votes in our Discussion Board polls. Anyone registered for the board can vote, but we have no way to track who has voted.

People, it's a poll! Have fun with it. It's not the State of Florida election process. Geez!

Thanks for giving us the ability to have this kind of fun Jim.

HA! Now that's something I agree with you on, Rbear

Why don'T we also start adding the standard deviation and effect sizes into this poll for more analysis, and subject the questions to pre psychometric analysis to make sure that they're valide and reliable questions!

It's just a nice way to gage peoples experiences.

Then how does Cyd know who has voted? He was pretty specific in that comment above.

"Of the 23 votes so far, 10 are A, 4 are B and 4 are C. There were five votes for Ds and Fs; but, I'd bet most of my life savings these are Gay Games supporters, still pissed at the Outgames, who are trying to drag them down"

I also gave Outgames an A!

Accreditation:A It was a breeze
Montrealers:A An old frail elderly couple came up to me in the Metro to ask where I was from, my sport, to ask how I liked Montreal, to welcome me to their city. The volunteers at the Ice Hockey {St Michel} and the employees became fast friends
Officiating: was professional in all sports I watched: Ice Hockey, Swimming, Athletics, Wrestling, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Soccer/Futbol,
The $20 Orange wrist band was an affordable, Brilliant idea to access all sports venues and a smart way to fundraise
Opening/Closing Ceremonies were Briliant! Even the booing of the Federal Gov't Rep didn't bother me.
During the Ceremonies whenever French was spoken it was immediately repeated in English for you ethnocentric Anglophones/Yanks who are complaining (grow up?)
I found all the Quebecers who are Francophone ONLY to be quite charming and friendly to even the rudest Anglophone. French should not have been kept from the Ceremonies just to boost your comfort levels. If you need sugery to remove your craniums from your rectums I'll do it Pro Bono!
Transportation A All public transportation was included in the registration fee and even in broken french/english easy to navigate
When I had to drop Triathlon due to Ice Hockey conflict Montreal let me add Half Marathon at no extra charge. The Half Marathon course was VERY well supported and I heard hundreds of "Bravo"s from citizens along the course.
Chicago refused to change my registration from Swimming and Triathlon to Half Marathon 2 months before Opening Day. Montreal made changes for me 2 weeks before the Opening Day.
The Outgames and GLISA have a philosophy of nurturing Gay Sport. As you swim across the ocean of life you will fare better with a bouyant life jacket than an anchor tied around your neck. The very philosophy of the Outgames movement will keep it alive forever.

OutGames was an "A" - in all aspects. We stayed right downtown, with wonderfully inexpensive accomodation in a University dorm residence ($85 per night with bedroom, living room, kitchenette, air conditioning).
The subway system is fantastic. The people in the shops on St. Catherines friendly - the Gay District was decorated and vibrant. There was a huge outdoor video screen to show highlights of the day - what a rush to see yourself up there!

I was in three events: Cross Country 10k run - perfectly organized with a great route, efficient volunteers and a professional announcer. We got our ribbons presented by Gilles Duceppe, the leader of the Parti Quebecois - and I got to kiss his cheeks (it's a French Canadian custom). The Triathlon (did the Olympic distance) was perfect - swam in an Olympic rowing basin, biked on the perfectly paved Gilles Villeneuve race track, then ran on a gravel and concrete trail flanking the swimming facility. It was the best triathlon of my life - and I've seen a few, sonny! Lastly, the 10 k road race was on the final day of the events, in conjunction with a 1/2 marathon and marathon. All races ended in front of the Montreal Olympic stadium - a total RUSH!

I got a picture standing next to Marc Tewksbury - he's a real sweetie - genuine and positive and enthusiastic.

The OutGames were the culminating event in my Coming Out process. I am so very thankful that I was able to be a part of them, and look forward to the 2007 North American OutGames in Calgary, Alberta, Canada - where I'll run my guts out, and then hopefully if the Running Fairy is good to me - I'll see you in Copenhagen for the 2nd OutGames.

I have NO rivalry in my heart for the Gay Games. I wish them every future success as well. We are a large enough community around the world that two games can be supported. The time had come, and come it did! Vive Les OutGames!!!!!!!!!!!!