From astaples@hookup.net  Sun Jan  8 17:48:32 1995
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 1995 17:52:44 -0500
Subject: Ottawa Rideau Speedeaus Swimming Competition

OTTAWA RIDEAU SPEEDEAUS SWIM TEAM - COMMUNIQUE

The Rideau Speedeaus proudly announce the "Swimmers in Heats V - Chill Out"
swimming competition. This fifth annual event will be held in Ottawa,
Saturday, February 18th, 1995 at the Nepean Sportsplex.

The Rideau Speedeaus will host teams from Toronto, Montreal, New York,
Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Ann Arbor during the closing
weekend of Ottawa's "Winterlude" festival.

The competition will be officially opened by openly gay Member of
Parliament Svend Robinson (Member for Burnaby-Kingsway, BC) during the
opening ceremonies on the Saturday morning of the competition.

The meet will take place at the state of the art Nepean Sportsplex's 50
metre pool, with both short and long distance competitive events being run
concurrently. Races will include 25 metre events for novices, and special
events, including the "Pink Flamingo" costume relay, a gay swim meet
tradition.

Last year's competition was the largest lesbian and gay swimming event held
on the eastern seaboard - outside of the Gay Games held in New York City in
June - with over 200 registrants.

The team will be again selling spectator tickets for the event. The cost of
the tickets will remain $5 as in previous years. Proceeds from the tickets
will be divided between the AIDS Committee of Ottawa (40%), the Rideau
Speedeaus Gay Games Fund (40%), Team Ottawa (10%), and Team Amsterdam
(10%).

After the competition on Saturday a party will be held at a local club - a
Winterlude event not to be missed - with over 200 swimmers, volunteers and
officials celebrating into the night.

All in all this event has given Ottawa a reputation as a very friendly city
to our aquatic brothers and sisters throughout North America. This event is
not possible without the help of the many volunteers who help out year
after year. Volunteers interested in helping with timing, setup,
refreshments, etc. can contact Volunteer Coordinator Brendan at (613)
230-2887 or via e-mail at: bleitch@bnr.ca.

The competition is open to all swimmers registered with Masters Swimming
Ontario (or equivalent). For more information please contact Meet
Coordinator Doug Vye at (613) 235-2277 or via e-mail at: vyed@pwc-tpc.ca.

For media enquiries contact Communications Coordinator Andrew Staples at
(613) 749-3035 or via e-mail at: astaples@hookup.net.