01-02/11: Jan-Feb 2011
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
LGBT Sport in Poland New Beginnings We are well into 2011 but the concept on New Beginnings is still quite actual and interesting, also for this double issue of the EGSLF Newsletter. Why wait (again) until December to check your wishes and resolutions, finding out that there was just not enough time (again) to fulfil your dreams and meet your goals. I am inspired by the quote found in this issue. We just need to get started...
Contents LGBT SPORT IN POLAND EGLSF AGA 2011 EGLSF INFO EUROGAMES 2011
Poland, one of the largest countries in Europe, has been fairly unknown in the terms of LGBT sports - at least in the international community. Luckily, EGLSF Board was proven otherwise during their board meeting, held in Warsaw in January. Between January 7 and 9, EGLSF board members met in Warsaw for the first board meeting in 2011. The Volup organization, led by Lukasz Wierdak, had arranged a perfect weekend, with friendly hosted housing, great meeting facilities and the opportunity to meet many of the Polish LGBT sport clubs. The meeting took place in the Lambda office, and the board had several things on the agenda. As usual, the January meeting was focused mostly about the coming AGA. A big focus was nevertheless put on inclusion of more eastern LGBT sports teams in EGLSF, with special attention to Poland. Another big item on the agenda was the
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.� Agatha Christie, British novelist
topic of EuroGames, especially regarding the 2012 Budapest edition. Other things on the agenda were the strategic plan of the EGLSF, statutes and
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
bylaws, membership issues, elections, advocacy, finances and communication. The board would like to take this opportunity and thank again our Polish hosts for their hospitality and organisation of the meeting in January.
EGLSF AGA 2011 The Annual General Assembly of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF 2011) will take place in Frankfurt, Germany between March 4 and 6, 2011.
Registration The registration has closed already. Those clubs who cannot attent the AGA, please take the opportunity and transfer your votes to a fellow member club. For the forms and more information, see www.eglsf.info/2011AGA.
Membership Issues In order to have your voting rights at the AGA, please make sure that your club filled out the membership form at www.eglsf.info/membership-form.php (applies to both new and existing clubs) AND that the membership fee is paid. To be able to use the reduction at the EuroGames, the membership fee has to be paid for 2011 as well as for the previous year (2010).
Info Brochure Our hosts - FVV and Artemis Frankfurt have prepared a special brochure for all participants, offering general information about the city, venues and other useful items. The brochure can be downloaded at the AGA 2011 page.
AGA Documents Please visit the AGA 2011 webpage for the programme, AGA 2010 minutes, AGA 2011 Papers and other documentation: http://www.eglsf.info/2010AGA The documents will also be provided in printed forms in your welcome package.
EGLSF Info EGLSF Exhibition Against the Rules - Lesbians and Gays in Sport, an exhibition about LGBTs and/ in sports was also officially awarded by the German federation for democracy and tolerance. On February 18, the award
ceremony was held in Henningsdorf near Berlin where Mrs Louise Englefield received the award on behalf of EGLSF. The exhibition is available in Germany and English language (with Spanish translation on the way), and can be rented free of charge. For details, please see EGLSF page http://www.eglsf.info/exhibition/
Football Against Homophobia Meeting Paris Foot Gay, in cooperation with the new French Minister of Sports selected the final date for the next meeting Football Against Homophobia, supported by FARE and EGLSF: May 13th - 15th, 2011. The participants are asked to arrive in Paris Friday night or Saturday, early in the morning. The costs for accommodation, transport and food will be covered. Saturday, we’ll have presentation of good practices, conferences and workshops. The focus this year will be on communication: how to spread our messages, what kind of concept could help us to reach our goals, etc. Participants are asked to prepare a brief presentation of your best communication tools or programs. Think to collect a maximum of images for your presentations. Saturday evening, everyone is invited for
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
the finale match French First League in the Stade de France, Sunday morning, we will meet again for a wrap up of the meeting until lunch. More details will be available soon. We hope to see you in Paris!
Studies Last year, we were asked to assist with a study by Ms Marie-Anne Midy, and we are happy to report that her thesis Sociology Study on Discrimination in Sports Based on Gender and Sexual Orientation is now finished. Some key findings: - discrimination in sports happens, - masculine sports are the most targeted, - joining LGBT sports clubs is a solution to avoid discrimination, - discrimination at work is different compared to sports, - the work place is perceived with the most discrimination, - discrimination in sports is an issue that is not being addressed, - there are different ways against homophobia in sports, - sports organizations are sometimes perceived as not willing to fight homophobia. An abstract will also be avaiable at the EGLSF website, and the author may be contacted for more information at ma.midy@gmail.com. At the same time, we are asking for your assistance in another Study. Mr zech. Philipp Zech from Berlin is doing his thesis on HIV and sport. The first part of this thesis is about what we know now about HIV & sport & medicine. The second part are interviews. If you would be willing to help, please contact him at zech.philipp@gmx.de.
EGLSF at the Ball EGLSF was honored to be invited by HOSI Wien (Homosexual Initiative
Vienna) to the annual Regenbogen (Rainbow) Ball to Vienna. Since the prestigious ball moved to a new and even more fabulous location, the spacious Hofburg (the Hapsburgs’ winter residence) the organizing committee decided the create a Rainbow Boulevard where national and international LGBT organizations could present themselves with banners and flyers. The ball was held under the patronage of Federal President Heinz Fischer, in the presence of numerous important political figures like Barbara Prammer, President of the National Council of Austria or Ulrike Lunacek, Member of the European Parliament for Austria and celebrities like Alfons Haider, from Dancing Stars (who dances with a male partner) and Lilo Wanders, media personality. It was a great opportunity for EGLSF to present LGBT sports in a completely new setting. At the opening march into the grand ballroom all guests of honor and their organizations were introduced to the 3000 participants. EGLSF was represented at the Ball in Vienna by Ms Gabriella Koermendi from Hungary, who used to ba an active dancer herself.
EU Sport Forum 2011 During the Hungarian EU Presidency, during February 21 and 22, 2011 hosted the EU Sport Forum in Budapest. About 200 participants from the Olympic and sport movement, including leading representatives from international and European sport federations, European and national sport umbrella organisations and other sport-related organisations discussed topics relating to the new EU competence in the field of sport and its implementation. Particular attention will be given to the European Commission’s new Communication on “Developing the European Dimension in Sport”, adopted on 18 January this year, as well as to projects selected in the framework of the 2009 and 2010 Preparatory Actions in the field of sport. Some of these projects were in charge of EGLSF partners. The second Forum day will include a joint lunch and a high-level debate with EU Sport Ministers. EGLSF Male Co-President Pepe Garcia Vasquez and Gabriella Koermendi took part in these proceedings. The Forum was a good chance for networking with other stakeholders. Particularly interesting was the meeting with representatives of EU Commission sport Unit about future
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
cooperation and potential funding. The new call of proposal will start in April and EGLSF Board intends to explore all the possibilities offered. The results of the EU Sport Forum 2011 will be made available on this website: http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/news988_ en.htm
Euro Games 2011 Ready, Set, Go! Picture this: Sunday afternoon, January 16, club Gay Palace in Rotterdam packed with people attending the New Years drink. Among the sound of funky ‘drumbeat’ music all guests raised their glasses to a spectacular New Year’s toast and, of course, to a splendid EuroGames 2011 tournament. Let the new year begin! Ready, set, go! Athletes, guests, members of several Rotterdam LGBT-organisations and of course volunteers were present in large numbers at the EuroGames New Years drink. Together with other Rotterdam LGBT-organisations the EuroGames members had organised a stunning program which even impressed the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb. After some short introductions, Rotterdam alderman Korrie Louwes took the stage. In her opening speech Mrs. Louwes called for more acceptance of LGBT’s in sports. Unfortunately, this still is a major issue today. One in four gay athletes say to encounter discrimination during sports. The EuroGames will try to bring a change to this in The Netherlands, starting this
summer in Rotterdam! nother important goal of this years EuroGames tournament is to attract more female contestants. Previous editions were characterised by far more male contestants than female contestants. The 2011 edition aims to change this as the organisation will put much effort in increasing the number of female participants. We hope to welcome at least an equal amount of female and male participants. In achieving this goal, several events are planned, for example special parties for female participants and an actual Miss Gay pageant. These events are not to be missed, so ladies, what are you waiting for? Register now!
Traveldesk Along with all the Rotterdam LGBTorganisations, the city of Rotterdam is also ready for the EuroGames. The Eurogames organisators provided a short update during the New Years drink. Changes are being made to the payment system to make Credit Card payments possible very soon. Also deals have been made with local hotels and special ‘package deals’ can be booked from different European cities such as
Barcelona, London and Berlin. These ‘package deals’ include a return-flight, four nights at a hotel, transfer from and to the airport and a chip card which can be used for the Rotterdam public transportation system. Check the website for additional information. You can contact the Traveldesk by e-mail for any questions at traveldesk@eurogames2011. eu. Also, keep checking our website regularly for more information on the several Rotterdam hotspots. Every month we highlight a must-see hotel, restaurant, museum or party which is not to be missed during your stay in Rotterdam!
New website online You might have noticed already. If not, it should be the first thing to do after reading this newsletter. The website of the EuroGames2011 has been completely renewed! It’s now even better, easier to navigate and much nicer. A group of very dedicated volunteers has been working behind the scenes on the website for quite some time, and we have to say that we are proud to present our new and improved website. Go and take a look, click around and experience all the improvements yourself: a website which is
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
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01-02/11: Jan-Feb 2011
easier to navigate, has more information and is much more colourful. It’s all in line with our motto: ‘Show your COLOUR’. For any questions or suggestions please contact our web team through info@ eurogames2011.eu
Back to school with the EuroGames What do local secondary school students know of the EuroGames? What do they think about it? The EuroGames in Rotterdam will be a nice opportunity to start a dialogue on this topic with the local schoolboys and schoolgirls. First, a round of panna-football or a selfdefence class and after that a serious talk about homosexuality in sports. This was roughly the program of the sports education project for students from several local secondary schools. What followed thereafter were some serious conversations indeed. Also among secondary school students, LGBTacceptance is not to be taken for granted. At the initiative of the local LGBTorganisations, Ray Hagen went into dialogue with these students. He found that there was a great diversity
in opinions on this topic ranging from complete acceptance and feelings of indignation that the EuroGames are even necessary to conservative thoughts and one individual who was not able to define homosexuality. Apparently, an afternoon of talking about this subject made it clear that there is still enough work to do! Contact rayhagen@eurogames2011. eu for more information on the Sports Education project.
Contact Us European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) c/o NCS Meeuwenlaan 41 NL-1021 HS Amsterdam The Netherlands eglsf@eglsf.info www.eglsf.info EGLSF Newsletter (ISSN: 1876-1763) is published by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation. EGLSF is registered as a nonprofit sports organisation with the Chamber of Commerce in The Hague and enjoys participatory status with the Council of Europe.