As Melbourne’s gay athletes pledge support for the 2009 World Outgames in Copenhagen, the City of Melbourne has rejected a funding proposal to participate in a major cross cultural promotion called Out Cities.
As part of the World Outgames, Melbourne is one of several cities invited to showcase its gay and lesbian culture and attractions in the heart of Copenhagen during the games, July 25 to August 2, 2009.
The Community Services Committee voted 4-3 against the proposal to provide $60,000 in funding toward the project, which is likely to cost in excess of $200,000. Committee members heard presentations from Gasworks director Crusader Hills and Asia Pacific Outgames co-president Loraine Little about the proposal. Both are members of a steering committee established by the Council to determine the project’s logistics.
Cr David Wilson said: "The City of Melbourne congratulates the City of Copenhagen on hosting the Out Cities 2009 event and welcomes their invitation to participate, however, Council does not consider funding Melbourne’s involvement in Out Cities a high financial priority, given the international location of the event (Copenhagen)."
Little told bnews she felt the councillors were concerned about spending rate payers’ money on an international event.
“I don’t think they really saw it as a marketing branding opportunity and using the vibrancy and diversity of the LGBT arts community to be the vehicle by which Melbourne sells itself as the preferred go-to city in Australia in terms of the gay and lesbian tourist market,” she says. “And that’s what the Out Cities project offers.”
Little said organisations such as Tourism Victoria and Arts Victoria would be approached to make up the shortfall in funding. Copenhagen expects more than 30,000 extra visitors for the World Outgames in addition to projected existing tourism numbers of 500,000. The proposal is not yet dead, and could now be heard by a full committee of the Council before the end of May, if the proposal is referred by a Council member.
Registrations for the World Outgames are now open online at www.copenhagen2009.org
by CATHY ANDERSON
