North America Outgames

As the Vancouver 2011 Outgames gets underway in Vancouver and Whistler today, a special group of 111 volunteers are limbering up and getting ready to particpate in the running of the flags, which will mark the official opening of this week-long celebration of sport, human rights and culture.

Armchair athletes will have easy access to all the action of the 2011 Vancouver Outgames as both CiTR Radio 101.9 FM and Shaw TV channel four will provide daily coverage during the games.

There is something to be said for a sporting competition that stretches its very definition.  While those Olympic-sized competitions are all about faster, higher, stronger, the Outgames sometimes takes a more relaxed view.

An homage to Bette Davis, with a little bit of Joan Crawford and Gloria Swanson thrown in for good measure, local playwright David Blue presents Confessions of a Mad Drag Queen as part of the Vancouver 2011 Outgames cultural festival.

Get ready to dance Vancouver as Mackenzie Green and Nathalie Heath from So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 3 take the stage of the Vancouver 2011 Outgames closing party for a flash mob dance in support of The Diversity Project.

Athletes at the upcoming Vancouver 2011 North America Outgames will get a truly west coast experience as organizers add the Grouse Grind to its sports line-up.

The Vancouver 2011 North America Outgames organizing committee has revealed the design for the medals to be given out for the sports element of the July games.

Youth and seniors looking to attend the Vancouver North America Outgames Human Rights Conference are big winners from recently announced government funding.

While the Olympics might have John Williams' "Summon the Heroes" and Spyros Samaras' "Olympic Theme", Vancouver's North America Outgames now has its own anthem: "Come On Out" from the award-winning duo Sugarbeach.

With less than three months to go, and athletes from as far away as Nigeria, Australia, Germany, London and Japan attending, the North America 2011 Vancouver Outgames is moving ahead full steam ahead.  But more than just sports, this summer’s Outgames, taking place in Vancouver from July 25-31, also includes a human rights conference and a cultural celebration.