by Ben Thompson
365Gay.com National Editor in Montreal

(October 27, Montreal)  Montreal's gay village was brighter, happier, and louder than its been since August's Pride festivities.  The east end neighbourhood was turned into one giant party Thursday night to celebrate the winning of the 2006 Gay Games.

Shortly after the games governing body made it official in Johannesburg, South Africa where it is meeting, Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque held a news conference at city hall.

A glowing Bourque could not keep from reminding reporters that the games will bring in an estimated $150 million in revenue for the city. More than 24,000 athletes and 200,000 other visitors are expected.

The Chamber of Commerce, the sponsors and the members of different associations like Divers Cité (GayPride) organized Thursday's victory party.

The Montreal games will be held from July 29 to August 5, 2006 and will run at the same time as Montreal's gay pride celebrations called Divers Cite. Also featured will be an international GLBT arts fair.

"We've hosted the Olympics, Expo, the Black and Blue parties, we know how to do it.  It's going to be fantastic," one young man along St Catharine Street told 365Gay.com Thursday night.

Another said, "Montreal's the perfect choice.  It is the most international city in the world.  It is the most gay city."   

Montreal athlete James-Michael Lavigne was ecstatic when he heard the news.

"Internationally, we're going to be recognized as a gay-friendly city," Lavigne said.

Andre Boulerice, a Parti Quebecois member of the legislature whose downtown riding encompasses much of the city's Gay Village, said the awarding of the Games to Montreal was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

"This was a long process and began back in 1995 when work began on the 2002 bid," Boulerice said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get that one but the team didn't give up and today it is bearing the fruits of its labour."

Throughout the village, Thursday night the feeling of pride and excitement could be felt.  "This city is anxious to get to work and show the world its open-minded spirit and tolerance toward its gay and lesbian community," businessman Gerard Spatafora told 365Gay.com.  Spatafora, one of the owners of Gaycrawler, based in Montreal predicted the best games ever.

And, while Montreal was celebrating, gay business owners in most other Canadian cities were looking at ways of cashing in on Montreal's success.

Most of the visitors to the Montreal games will come from outside the country, and there is a strong feeling many tourists will want to see other parts of Canada as well as Montreal.

It is expected that Canada's capital, Ottawa, and Toronto, the largest city in the country, both short drives from Montreal will reap most of the residual business.  

Michael Swann, owner of Toronto's Zelda's Restaurant and long-time booster of the city's gay village told 365Gay.com, "We're thrilled to hear that the 2006 gay games will be in Montreal! With Toronto only a few hours away, we feel this will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the vibrant community here to gay international tourists who may otherwise not be aware of what the city has to offer."