World OutGames: 2009 Anthem Released!

“Freedom to love – Love of Freedom”, the official song for World Outgames 2009, has now been released. The song is written and sung by Danish music icon Annisette, lead singer for the internationally known band Savage Rose. Annisette, who is now based in Los Angeles, will per-form the song live at the opening ceremony for World Outgames in Copenhagen on July 25.

”Freedom to love – love of freedom”, is based on the theme of World Outgames 2009, setting focus the basic human right to love. Annisette and World Outgames organizers hope it will help encourage greater understanding and accept for everyone’s right to love whomever they chose.

”I hope that the song will not only give strength and courage to those who often feel pressured by society to suppress their feelings, but that it will also open the hearts and minds of those who may have an uninformed and rigid attitude towards love and human relationships”, said Annisette.

The Danish rock icon, whose career spans more than 5 decades, agreed to write and perform the song with a challenge to gather people in the world who believe in universal love.

“Many, if not all, of my songs are about universal love. I was extremely happy for this opportunity to represent this segment of the earth’s children who have suffered from intolerance and narrow-mindedness that has robbed them of the freedom to love.” said Annisette.

Annisette has requested no compensation for the song which is available as free download. “Freedom to love – love of freedom”, like the expansive World Outgames cultural program, is a gift to Denmark and the rest of the world.

”We are proud and honored by Annisettes generosity. She has recorded a song that speaks to our heart as only she can,” said World Outgames director, Uffe Elbæk.

What Are The World OutGames?

The World OutGames are a sporting and cultural event hosted by the gay community. With over 12,000 participants, the 1st World Outgames, held in 2006, was the largest international event to be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada since the 1976 Summer Olympiad. These first OutGames were not as successful as the organizers had hoped and ended up with a deficit of $5.3 million. Many suppliers were left unpaid after the various governments refused to cover the debt.

The OutGames are 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. The OutGames bring together athletes and artists from all over the world, many from countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden.

The OutGames are not to be confused with the Gay Games. The seventh edition of the Gay Games was supposed to take place in Montreal in 2006, but the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) removed their sanction after it and Montreal 2006 were unable to agree on the size of the games. The official Gay Games for 2006 were awarded to Chicago, with just over 12,000 participants. Montreal 2006 announced its intentions to continue organizing the games without the sanction of the FGG; this plan developed into the first edition of the World Outgames, sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association, the city of Montreal, the Province of Quebec, the Government of Canada, GlaxoSmithKline, Air Canada, Labatt Brewing Company, Bell Canada, as well as dozens of other national and international business and media organizations.