From the opening ceremony at City Hall square - where participants were greeted with cheers and applause from more than 25,000 spectators - to the emotional closing at the same square, where at least 40,000 were on hand to celebrate Copenhagen Pride, World Outgames 2009 delivered more than 2200 program activities that inspired, entertained and left nearly everyone feeling happy to have been a part of it.

"Everything was absolutely fantastic," said GLISA co-president Julia Applegate in an email to organizers after the event.

"I saw opera from Mexico City, dance from Tel Aviv, disco from Antwerp, feminist rock from Melbourne, drag king theatre from Copenhagen. I attended a world class human rights conference with leading academics, activists and agitators from all corners of the world. I participated in an extremely well run swim meet…I had a blast and I am honored to have been part of it," wrote Julia Applegate.