The Montreal-based Outgames announced that their registration will begin on June 1, and the Chicago Gay Games responded by saying its new website will debut May 28, with registration beginning the first week in June. So goes the battle between the 2006 international gay sports competitions.

According to its website, the Montreal Outgames is urging participants to register early in order to guarantee placement in events. Early registrants will receive a three-percent discount on the regular registration fee. There will also be a drawing for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Outgames from Air Canada and to participate in monthly promotional draws. The early registration fee for Outgames is $165 per person for one event; it will cost $55 per event to sign up for additional events. Participants will have 31 events to choose from in the competition.

The Outgames are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 5, 2006.

Keeping pace with the rival competition, the Chicago Gay Games is heavily promoting its new website, which will feature detailed information about each of the 30 sports being offered at Gay Games VII, including venue specifications, biographical sketches of sports managers, the participation schedule, and information about competition levels, age divisions and more. The website will also include information about the city of Chicago – its history, people, neighborhoods, landmarks and cultural institutions.

Participants who log on to the website will be able to select the sport or cultural event in which they want to participate, complete the online forms necessary to place them in the appropriate competitive age or gender division, and pay their registration fees.

“Early registration will be important for those who are eager to save money and to reserve space in their sport,” said Suzanne Arnold, Chicago 2006 sports co-chair. “Several Gay Games sports have historically reached their capacity limits soon after registration has launched.”

By registering early, participants save up to 30 percent off the base registration fee.

Website visitors will also be able to purchase collectible logo-imprinted merchandise, volunteer to help with the Gay Games, learn how to sponsor the Gay Games or donate funds, sign up for a quarterly electronic newsletter and read stories about athletes who have participated in previous Gay Games. Additional features will be added throughout the summer of 2004 and into 2005, including ticketing for Opening Ceremonies at Soldier Field, Closing Ceremonies at Wrigley Field, special shows and finals of some sports.

“Chicago’s entire team – volunteers, vendors, and sports/culture experts – have accomplished something very extraordinary,” said Gene Dermody, former co-president of the Federation of Gay Games and head of the FGG’s Registration Advisory Board. “Less than three months after being awarded the Gay Games, they are prepared to launch a highly complicated website with the features and benefits athletes and cultural participants will need to register for Gay Games VII.”

“Our joint commitment to a complete and accurate registration system has been the hallmark of our partnership with the FGG’s worldwide sports experts these past two months,” said Tracy Baim, co-chair of the Gay Games VII Technology Committee. “In addition to the FGG’s experts, our vendor partners and volunteers deserve a great deal of recognition for taking so much time out of their lives to establish an online registration system more quickly than any previous Gay Games.”

- Compiled from press releases