Outgames receives early Christmas present

Organisers of the Copenhagen Outgames have received an early Christmas present to the value of one million kroner, courtesy of Denmark’s regional government.

Outgames 2009 organisers have also had a massive response to a recent call for volunteers.

The Capital Region’s pledge to support the Games has been graciously welcomed by Outgames CEO Uffe Elbaek.

The grant is significant for not only financial reasons, but also because it sends a strong signal of how important World Outgames 2009 is, not only for the city of Copenhagen, but for the entire region, he said.
A spokeswoman for the Capital Region reiterated that the funding was being provided in support of the Games’ overall message as well as its capacity to bring in tourist dollars to the region.

The World Outgames is synonymous with tolerance, cultural diversity and personal freedom -” values that are important to us, she said. Large international cultural events improve the life quality for our citizens.

And going by the recent volunteer figures, the event has been wholeheartedly adopted by locals.

Organisers have been overwhelmed with people looking to volunteer, with over 1000 people already signed on, seven months out from the games.

A total of 2500 volunteers will be needed to make the games, expected to attract close to 400,000 people, a success.

With nearly half that number already accounted for, organisers did not seem worried.

Our experience has been that many have volunteered because World Outgames represents something they want to support and bring into public focus, director of volunteers Thorbjorn Nesjan said.

Recruiting 2500 volunteers is a very big job and it is impressive that World Outgames has already come this far.

info: Go to http://www.copenhagen2009.org