It was announced on Friday that the majority of the 450 events have been cancelled due to poor management, leaving thousands with out of pocket expenses. More here.

World OutGame 2017  will welcome athletes, participants, spectators and thought leaders from around the globe as they converge on Miami beginning May 26 through June 4, 2017. Making its U.S. debut, the 10-day event will bring to life a series of events across the areas of Sports, Culture and Human Rights. Participants from 40 countries to attend 10-day event in celebration of sports, culture and human rights.

Every four years, World OutGames brings together LGBTQI athletes, many from countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden. In the spirit of true inclusiveness, the World OutGames are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation.

“We are proud to bring World OutGames to the United States as a global statement of unity, inclusiveness and healthy competition,” said Ivan Cano, CEO of World OutGames Miami. “There is still time to register for this life changing experience which will inspire, motivate and celebrate the human spirit through its three pillars – Sports, Culture and Human Rights.”

SPORTS

Athletes will arrive at World OutGames Miami ready to challenge themselves physically in a variety of sports. With skill levels ranging from beginner to competitive, the roster of sporting events includes, but is not limited to, basketball, bodybuilding, cycling, dance sport, field hockey, golf, rowing, running, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, triathlon, volleyball and water polo.

Sports events will be held at world-class venues across Miami-Dade County, including Tropical Park, University of Miami, Ransom Everglades Aquatics Center, Kendall Soccer Park, Miami Beach Golf Club, Crandon Park and Doubletree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center.

HUMAN RIGHTS

World OutGames Miami will also feature the 4th Global LGBTQI Human Rights Conference, a three-day event (May 26-29) held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The three-day conference will be a powerful global gathering of internationally respected human rights activists, researchers, legal scholars and trade organizations, and will include more than 25 speakers and 35 topics focused on three specific tracks: Promoting Inclusivity in Sports (LGB, Intersex, Trans*, Women), Health & Wellness (HIV, Disability, Sexuality, Body Politics, Human Trafficking) and Social Justice (Labor/Trade Unions, Religion, LGBTQI Criminalization, Workplace Issues).

Speakers include Juana Mora Cedeño (Cuba), Tamara Adrián (Venezuela), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (USA), Amini Fonua (Tonga), Surat-Shaan Knan (UK), Mark Tewksbury (Canada), Nadine Smith (USA), Chris Mosier (USA) and Alessandra Ramos (Brazil). Austin Bryan (Uganda), Carlos Quesada (USA), Dr. Cecile Houry (USA),  Haven Herrin (USA), Marthe Djilo Kamga (Belgium), Justin Klecha (USA)

CULTURE

World OutGames Miami participants will immerse themselves in a warm welcome from a community that honors, respects and supports them and from a city that celebrates diversity and self-expression. Attendees will enjoy various cultural happenings planned over the 10-day long event: live entertainment and concerts, art exhibits, community events and a film festival. In addition, the World OutGames Main Village at Lummus Park, Miami Beach’s oceanfront park, will host activities, vendors and entertainment offerings.

About World OutGames

World OutGames is a multi-sport and cultural event that is licensed by the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA). Every four years, World OutGames brings together athletes from all over the world in unprecedented numbers for a celebration of sport, culture and human rights, many from countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden. Previously hosted in Montreal, Copenhagen and Antwerp, World OutGames is open to all who wish to participate, without regard to sexual orientation. There are no qualifying standards, although competitions are arranged according to the skill levels of the competitors.

World OutGames

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About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.