Opening Ceremonies
Opening Ceremonies for the 1st Outgames Montreal 2006 were held at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, July 29, 2006. The performance was broadcast by Radio-Canada, Canada's national French-language public broadcaster.
After the parade of nations, the Declaration of Montreal was read by Mark Tewksbury and Martina Navrátilová. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal, Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Culture, and Michael Fortier, federal Minister of Public Works, represented the three levels of government; Fortier was loudly booed, reflecting anger among the LGBT community regarding the Conservative government's stances on gay rights, including the announcement of a motion to reopen debate on the Civil Marriage Act and same-sex marriage in Canada. Furthering the hostility towards Fortier was the decision by Prime Minister Stephen Harper not to attend, which was seen as an insult to the world gay community. (Harper subsequently would snub the XVI International AIDS Conference, 2006 as well).
After the athletes' and officials' oath were taken by Charles Boyer and Diane Bandy respectively, Mayor Tremblay officially declared the Outgames open.
Using the theme of “the circle”, the concept of the show integrated music, song, dance, choruses, mass choreography and performances by the Cirque du Soleil.
Artists who performed at the opening ceremonies included:
- k.d. lang
- Martha Wash
- Deborah Cox
- Jonas
- Sylvie Desgroseilliers
- Diane Dufresne
- Cirque du Soleil
Read more about this topic: 2006 World Outgames
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