(Montréal) — The Board of Directors of the Montréal 2006 Gay Games VII Organizing Committee has announced the election of Mark Tewksbury as its new co-president. Lucie Duguay will also act as co-president with Tewksbury, who is an internationally renowned Canadian Olympic swimmer. He culminated a remarkable 16-year athletic career with a thrilling victory in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games while setting a new world record.

Highlights from his illustrious sport career include seven world records; gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic competition; four gold medals in Commonwealth Games competitions; seven medals in Pan Pacific competitions and 21 National championship titles. Tewksbury was voted the swimmer of the year in 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1993 by Swimming Canada. Tewksbury’s extensive sports experience and his considerable knowledge of the inner workings of the International Sport Federations and the Olympic Movement are considered to be a wealth of information and help for the Montréal 2006 Gay Games VII Organizing Committee.

Now retired, Tewksbury’s current involvement speaks volumes about him as a person. He is the co-founder and chairman of “Oath,” an international organization devoted to upholding integrity through sports. He is an active humanitarian, investing his time in the Special Olympics and with people living with AIDS. In 1998, while serving as national spokesperson for AIDS, Tewksbury publicly came out, becoming the first Canadian national sports hero to do so. On a professional note, Tewksbury hosted his own weekly television program called “How It’s Made” on the Discovery Channel and was a regular contributor to Canada’s most popular morning news program, “Canada AM.” Tewksbury enjoys at the moment an enormously successful motivational speaking career around the world.

Tewksbury’s involvement with the Gay Games VII began at the bidding process in 2001 as the Games’ honorary co-president and later as board member. His current nomination as co-president comes at a crucial time for the Games, which are currently in their global planning process and working on the deployment of their sponsorship program in North America. “Montréal 2006’s vision is nothing short of capturing the hearts and minds of the world by presenting a show of human endurance, creativity and achievement that will serve as a legacy and source of inspiration for all Gay Games to come. It’s thus an international rendez-vous in Montréal in 2006” said Tewksbury.

On October 25, 2001, Montréal won the right to host Gay Games VII from July 29 to August 5, 2006. The Federation of Gay Games praised Montréal’s facilities, extensive government and community support, its professional presentation and commitment to international outreach as among the strong points of the winning bid. In particular, Montréal 2006 has received unparalleled government financial assistance, giving it a start-up advantage not enjoyed by previous Gay Games hosts.