10/09: October 2009
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
Experts Meeting in Rotterdam October - Football Month October is important for European football, not only because of the football matches being played, but also because the traditional FARE Action Week takes place during this month. Ironically, the fight against racism & discrimination started in France with a refusal of playing a match against a gay team. The team refusing to play was santioned in the end. Read more about both events in our newsletter!
Contents EXPERTS MEETING IN ROTTERDAM EGLSF INFO NEWS SECTION SPORTS EVENTS COMING UP...
EGLSF Board visited Rotterdam between October 15 and 18 for a board meeting, thanks to the invitation and hospitality of EuroGames Rotterdam 2011 and Rotterdam club Ketelbinkie. Board members held a meeting with EuroGames organisers about the cooperation issues involved: schedule, registration, venues, contract, etc... Also some visits to venues were organised. It was opportunity also to meet some representatives of the 2012 Budapest EuroGames. EGLSF Board also had a meeting with the recently newly elected Board of our member club Ketelbinkie. Several issues were discussed concerning cooperation, most specifically concerning gender equality, transgender issues and sport management.
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” Harvey Fierstein, American actor and playwright
Parallel to the Board meeting, EuroGames Rotterdam held a meeting with former and future EuroGames and other LGBT sports
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
events organisers in order to exchange views, expertise end good practices. The presence of key figures at the experts meeting was also an excellent opportunity to sign the contract for the 2010 AGA the Annual general assembly of EGLSF, which is to take place on March 6 and 7 in Manchester. A special strategic day with several workshops will be organised on Friday, March 5, just prior to the AGA. More information is to follow, but we already invite you now to make the plans for the AGA between March 5 (morning) to March 7 (afternoon).
EGLSF Info EGLSF Board meetings As reported, the board of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) met in October in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The topics discussed included EuroGames, Membership, Finances, AGA 2010, Advocacy, International organisations & cooperation and other current points of business. The board will next meet in Helsinki, Finland January 6-10, 2010. Inbetween, two teleconferences are scheduled in November and December.
EGLSF Newsletter Draw October 1 was the deadline for subscribing to the EGLSF Newsletter and being legible to participate in the draw. Prizes were free tickets for the EuroGames 2011 in Rotterdam and EuroGames 2012 in Budapest.The lucky winners have been drawn in Rotterdam. The names will be published in agreement with the prize-winners. www.eglsf.info/eglsf-newslettersubscribe.html
Upcoming global and European LGBT sports events
Elite Irish Athlete Comes Out
After the Outgames (licenced by GLISA) taking place this summer in Copenhagen, Denmark, the next global LGBT sports event - Gay Games (licenced by FGG) is to be held in Cologne, Germany next summer (July 31 - August 7, 2010).
This week the Irish and UK press has been full of news that one of the great stars of Irish Hurling has come out as gay. Donal Óg Cusack, the Cork Goalkeeper makes the revelation in his autobiography Come What May, published today by Penguin Ireland.
Next EuroGames, the European Gay & Lesbian Championships, licenced by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) will be held in the summer of 2011 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and in 2012 in Budapest, Hungary.
Support from the sports governing body the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) has been met by a generally positive response throughout the country by hurling fans. Sandra Gowran, Director of Education Policy at the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network in Ireland says:
EGLSF also warmly invites all individuals and member clubs to explore the numerous international events organised by our member clubs. See the Sports Events Coming Up... for immediate events and www.gaysport.info for a complete list of all upcoming events.
“It is fantastic news. The GAA is a stronghold of traditional Ireland, so the support Donal Óg Cusack has received in his sport really shows how far Ireland has come on this issue. It is wonderful for LGBT young Irish people to see someone of such high ranking prominence and with such skill come out as gay.”
www.gaysport.info
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
Hurling is Europe’s oldest team sport, one of the traditional Gaelic sports which has been chronicled as an Irish pastime for at least 2,000 years. It is a tough, physically challenging game thought to be the world’s fastest team sport in terms of game play. Despite the generally warm reception Donal Óg (as he is known throughout Ireland) received this week, however, it has not all been a smooth ride. During a match against rivals Tipperary in the summer, one fan began shouting homophobic abuse through a megaphone. It was not an isolated incident. “My mother doesn’t go to games any more,” Cusack revealed to the press this week. “The stress is too much. My sister Treasa has been deeply upset a few times by what she has heard. I hate what it does to those around me”. Male Co-President of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF), Pepe Garcia-Vazquez comments: “We welcome the news of Donal Óg Cusack’s decision to make public his sexuality. Whilst this is always a decision to be made by individual athletes, we must commend Mr Cusack for his courage. Meanwhile, the EGLSF will continue to work towards a Europe in which all elite LGBT athletes feel safe to come out.”
Euro Pride Youth Games
during Pride Games and is launched with its own very special opening ceremony. This event, which welcomes LGBT young people (aged 18-24) from throughout Europe, follows several highly successful domestic LGBT youth Games in Manchester. It features a packed and exciting programme of activities including unique events as well as others that run along side Pride Games events. All activities include an opportunity to compete as well as ‘have a go’ at something new. Sports includes: track and field, mountain biking, skiing and bell boating. There are also evening cultural events, which conclude with a young person’s Prom Night. The packed itinerary is certain to ensure a memorable stay in the Northern Capital of Sport. Registration costs £200 and includes all main meals, accommodation (dormitory style), transport between events and participation in all activities. An Outreach programme is also available. www.lgbtyouthnorthwest.org.uk lgbtyouthnorthwest@yahoo.co.uk
News Section
News submitted by our members FGG Assembly and Gay Games In 2010 Manchester will play host to the very first European Pride Youth Games. This supervised residential Games programme takes place 8 – 13 June
2 October 2009 Between 26th September and 1st October, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) held its Annual Meeting in
Cologne. One of the most exciting topics on the agenda was the selection of the Gay Games 2014 organisers. Among the three final candidates - Boston, Massachusetts, Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. (all USA), Cleveland’s bid was the most successful. Another important part were the FGG Board elections. The new 20-member board comes from Europe, USA and Australia. EGLSF male Co president, Pepe García Vázquez attended this meeting on 1st October. He exchanged views with FGG representatives, mostly concerning the future of LGBT sport. In this sense, a meeting was held about on 2nd October and FGG has drafted a report, incorporating the input from the meeting held in Copenhagen last August, within the framework of the Conference held in parallel with Outgames. EGLSF Co President also met with Gay Games Cologne 2010 female Co president Annette Wachter. The meeting was about issues of mutual interest and cooperation to the event by EGLSF (contract, outreach and potential conference). During the meetings as well as during the charity dinner EGLSF was mentioned at several occasions in a very positive manner. http://www.gaygames.com/
Open Session II 3 October 2009 A special open session, devoted to discussions regarding the Future of LGBT Sport and Culture followed the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) assembly on October 2. The session followed the workshop organized by the FGG at the invitation of World Outgames 2009 during the Copenhagen human rights conference. During that conference, more than
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
30 persons from sports clubs and federations, including the FGG, Gay & Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA), and European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), concluded that their common goal should be a single international quadrennial sports and culture event, including a human rights conference. Those present urged the FGG and GLISA to begin direct discussions on moving toward the goals determined during the workshop. In Cologne, some thirty people participated at the discussion, representing clubs and organizations from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Most of the participants had a connection with the FGG, with guests Conny Kempe-Schälicke (Seitenwechsel, former co-president of EGLSF) and Buck Broker (board of Vorspiel). The discussion resulted in reaching consensus on a number of points, allowing the FGG leadership to better speak on behalf of the Gay Games movement as discussions with GLISA and other interested parties continue.
Registration Gay Games 2010 14 October 2009 Gay Games VIII, the biggest LGBT sports and cultural festival in the world, will take place in Cologne, Germany from July 31 to August 7, 2010. Some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries are expected to celebrate the principles of participation, inclusion and personal best. Almost 2000 participants have already registered, with sailing and golf nearing maximum capacity. Registration fees will increase by 25 Euros on 31 December 2009, and the deadline for scholarship applications has been extended to November 1, so register now! “Be part of it!” Gay Games VIII is open to everyone – regardless of sexual
orientation, gender, athletic skills, physical capabilities, or age. http://www.games-cologne.de
Refusing to play a gay team 16 October 2009 In early October 2009 in France, Creteil Bebel, a soccer team made up of mainly Muslim players, refused to play a match against Paris Foot Gay, a club that welcomes homosexual and heterosexual players. The dispute got a lot of media attention, and after a week, a resolution finally came in the form of a one-line note last week from the sports league governing the amateur teams. Creteil Bebel was ejected from the league for refusing the match on discriminatory grounds. The mentioned team cancelled the match at the last moment, via email, roughly translating: “Sorry, but in light of the name of your team and in keeping with the principles of our team, which is a team of practicing Muslims, we cannot play against you; our convictions are stronger than a simple game of soccer. Sorry to have informed you so late.” The backlash brought sensitive issues to attention, namely religion and its place in a secular France as well as homophobia in sports and society at large. The media coverage also stirred debate about the merits of fighting for a cause, such as gay rights, versus not making an issue of one’s convictions in a country where emphasizing differences is frowned upon. The story also took an ugly turn that both sides said was unfortunate — a slant that seemed to pit Islam against the gay community. At hearing was held on October 13 to determine what sanctions the offending team should face. An apology to Paris Foot Gay was expressed, with willingness to carry out the cancelled match. The
action of the team’s president, Zahir Belgharbi, was marked as a mistake sending the “awkwardly worded” email to Paris Foot Gay on the eve of the match. However, given the league’s strict rules on discrimination and Belgharbi’s absence from the hearing, the committee decided it was too little too late. The next day it announced it had ejected Creteil Bebel. Paris Foot Gay was founded five years ago, and the club welcomes players of all stripes and exists as a place where gay players don’t have to hide their homosexuality. Currently, no professional soccer player in France has identified himself as gay, even though five out of 20 professional teams have signed charters promising to fight against homophobia in their ranks. “The rest don’t want to sign,” the president of PFG, Pascal Brethes said. http://www.parisfootgay.com
Top-leagues participating in FARE activities 25 September 2009 This week sees a new round of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches across Europe - and the fight against racism will be the focal point at stadiums throughout the continent, as UEFA gives its full support to Europe’s biggest anti-racism campaign which kicked-off last week. UEFA has been a core supporter of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network since a formal agreement was signed in 2001, and as the relationship has grown, so have the number and scale of anti-racism activities at European matches. European football’s governing body has a zero tolerance policy towards racism on and off the field of play, and punishes those guilty of such conduct with disciplinary measures. UEFA President, Michel Platini, spoke of his support for the activities taking
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
place next week at European matches: “UEFA is unshakable in its commitment to fight against any type of discriminatory behaviour at European football matches, both on and off the pitch. That is why I am pleased to support all the activities that will take place next week, together with our partner FARE, to show the watching public and fans at home that we are united in our opposition to racism.” This year, all 16 matches on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League (20 and 21 October) and for the first time, all 24 matches in the UEFA Europa League (22 October) will support the FARE Action Week. PA announcements will be made in support of the initiative, giant screens, where available, will feature the Unite Against Racism logo and a 30 second “No to Racism” spot will be shown before the matches and during half-time. FARE Action Week posters will be provided for distribution at the clubs, and a page in the match programmes will be provided for a RESPECT advert.
Sports Events Coming up...
Events submitted by our members
Multisport
Volleyball
Goldelsencup Berlin, Germany 13 Nov – 15 Nov 2009 Yes, we do it again! We’d like to invite you to the next Goldelsen Cup in Berlin. This international Volleyball tournament for women and men will take part from 13th till 15th of November. We hope to welcome you in the German capital! http://www.goldelsencup.de info@goldelsencup.de
Antwerp Games Antwerp, Belgium 30 Oct – 1 Nov 2009
Volleyball
Brazil Cup Sao Paulo, Brazil 19 Nov – 23 Nov 2009
The 10th FARE Action Week (15 - 27 October), organised by the FARE network and supported by UEFA, features some 1,000 initiatives by campaigners, fans, clubs, national associations, ethnic minority groups and youth groups across Europe. Launched in the 2001/2002 season with initiatives in nine countries, the 10th anniversary edition of the annual FARE Action Week will now involve 40 different countries.
During the weekend of 30 October to 1 November 2009, Active Company organises the first AntwerpGames. A new and shining name for a new tournament. We hope it will be the diamond on top of a long tradition of gay-lesbian sports tournaments. Badminton, volleyball, Tennis, Wrestling, Swimming, along with Bicycle trip, choir performance and dansant are the main features of the event.
http://www.farenet.org
www.antwerpgames.be info@antwerpgames.be
http://www.esportegls.com/fvga fvga@esportegls.com
Running
Race to Deliver New York, USA 22 Nov – 22 Nov 2009 http://www.racetodeliver.org raceinfo@glwd.org
Volleyball
Sinterklaas tournament Badminton
LYC London Tournament
Amsterdam, the Netherlands 27 Nov – 29 Nov 2009
London, United Kingdom 8 Nov – 8 Nov 2009 www.lyclondon.com lyc2007@hotmail.co.uk
Annual international volleyball tournament with about 25 male teams and 25 female teams in one large sportsfacility in Amsterdam. all levels (A to C) both for
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
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men and women teams. http://www.netzo-amsterdam.nl/ sinterklaastoernooi/Sinterklaas_ Tournament.htm sinterklaas@netzo-amsterdam.nl
FOTOS: Page 1: EuroGames 2011 Page 2: Andrej Pisl Others: Public, non-copyrighted
Multisport
XMAS-Tournament Frankfurt, Germany 4 Dec – 6 Dec 2009
For the 21st time Frankfurt is organising its popular multisports tournament in the winterly atmosphere of the snowcovered city. Besides an expanded sports programm, the legendary XMAS-Party at Unionhalle with over 2.000 partycipants and a warm come together for the farewell-brunch complement the weekend. Board members of EGLSFmember clubs are invited to participate in the conference on the future frequency of Eurogames Friday and Sunday afternoon. Participants from Eastern Europe can apply for our generous Outreach Programm! http://www.fvv.org registration@fvv-xmas.org
Multisport
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.