There was a fair bit of confusion when some Canadian mainstream media outlets were reporting that Vancouver had been awarded the 3rd World Outgames for 2011. In fact it is the 2nd North American Regional Outgames that Vancouver will host in late July of 2011.

The 3rd World Outgames which will be held in 2013 were awarded to Antwerp Belgium one of the coolest gay friendly cities you are likely to find anywhere. For some reason it seems to fly under the radar here in North America compared to many of the other cities with gay friendly reputations, including of course both Copenhagen (Outgames 2009) and Cologne (Gay Games 2010).

The press release announcing Antwerp appears below.

GLISA Selects Host City for World OutGames 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver, October 25, 2008

On behalf of the members and Board of GLISA International and Antwerp WOGA2013 (the organization committee in Antwerp):

The Board of directors of GLISA International is extremely proud to be able to announce that at the end of the selection process, the members of GLISA International and of the Continental Associations have chosen for Antwerp to host the 3rd WorldOutgames in 2013!

During the Delegate Congress, the Antwerp team presented their inspiring plans for the three pillars of Outgames: Sports, Culture and Human Rights.

The event will be held from 3 till 11 August 2013.

Vice Mayor of Antwerp Ludo van Campenhout, delegation leader of the WOGA2013-team in Vancouver, expressed the support for the event from the City of Antwerp: ‘The entire city council supports this event in 2013. After the successful hosting of the Eurogames in 2007, we are confident that our city will be able to show the world magnificent games in 2013’.

‘One of the items very important to us throughout this process was the sound financials for the games. We also looked at how the Antwerp team will be incorporating and using the lessons learned from previous world and continental Outgames in hosting the event in 2013’ Wessel van Kampen, member of the Host selection Committee and co-President of GLISA international, states.

The Board of GLISA International are confident that over the next five years, GLISA and the WOGA2013 team will be closely working together as partners in delivering the next World Outgames.

The event in Antwerp in 2013 will be preceded by the 2nd World Outgames that will be held next year in Copenhagen from July 25 till August 2, 2009.