After the successful Mr. Gay Canada competition was held in Whistler in September, organizers announced this week the resort will host the first annual Mr. Gay World competition in February during the annual gay ski week, WinterPRIDE.

The first global search for Mr. Gay World is set to take place Feb. 4 to 8, 2009. The primary purpose of the competition is to identify leaders who will speak out for equal rights both locally and on the global stage, organizers said in a statement issued Monday (Nov. 10).

Mr. Gay World will act as a positive role model with the goal to humanize being gay. He will also act as a LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) global ambassador.

The competition will see 24 men vie for the Mr. Gay World title over four days of events, physical tests and interviews. The lion’s share of the points will be awarded by judges for qualities such as leadership, communication, compassion and willingness to try new things and meet new people.

The event finale on Feb. 7 will be hosted by Canadian Olympic medal winner Mark Tewksbury and the event director Terry Costa said the finale will “wow” Whistlerites, visitors and WinterPRIDE attendees.

Dean Nelson, head of Alpenglow Productions, which produces WinterPRIDE, said he’s working with Mr. Gay World organizers to weave the competition into the gay ski week programming. “We are so thrilled to welcome the Mr. Gay World organization to be an integral part of this year’s WinterPRIDE festival,” Nelson said in a statement.

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