12/07: December 2007
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
Year in Review Annual Overview Seasonal Greetings The EGLSF Board wishes our member organisations, their members and families, as well as our non-member readers and supporters joyful holiday season and all the best in the upcoming year. ♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ♪
Contents YEAR IN REVIEW ANNUAL OVERVIEW NEWS SECTION SPORTS EVENTS COMING UP...
Madrid Annual General Assembly (AGA 2007) EGLSF held its Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Madrid, Spain, (2nd-4th March 2007). Many motions were approved. Two of them could be highlighted: the mandate to pursue an active Gender Equality policy and the creation of Committees (Advocacy, Outreach, Financial and Structural&Strategic) to support EGLSF board work. For more detailed information, you can access to draft AGA Minutes at EGLSF website www.eglsf.info.
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland Writer
EGLSF Board For the first time in its history, EGLSF Board got equal representation. First of all, it now consists of four female and four male board members. Secondly,
its eight members come from eight different European countries. Here is its composition after AGA Madrid elections:
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
Female Co President: Anne Jensen (Denmark) Male Co President: Pepe García Vázquez (Spain/Belgium) General Secretary: Lou Manders (The Netherlands) Treasurer: Juha Meronen (Finland) Board Members: Gisela Weil (Germany) Alia Katsika (Greece) Gabriella Körmendi (Hungary) Andrej Pisl (Slovenia)
2007 Antwerp EuroGames
and EGLSF Co Presidents.
From 12th to 15th July 2007, Antwerp hosted the 11th EuroGames, where more than 3,000 athletes, coming from 40 countries, participated. Thanks to the exemplary commitment of Antwerp team and the strong official support, the games were an overall success, making real their motto: “More than Playing Games”.
- The “White Paper” on sport elaborated by the European Commission: it means that finally a framework at European level exists where EGLSF could integrate its activities.
2008 Barcelona EuroGames From 24th to 27th July 2008, Barcelona will be the host city of the 12th EuroGames. Registration is intended to begin 21st of December. [new date; visit http://2008.eurogames.info for more info and to register] Barcelona organisers will present a comprehensive interim report at 2008 AGA.
Advocacy EGLSF continued its advocacy work during 2007. A full report about this activity will be given at Rome 2008 AGA. The following items should be highlighted: - Signature, as a prelude to Antwerp EuroGames, of a Charter against Homophobia by Belgian football authorities, the Flemish Minister of Sport
- Actions in Germany in the context of the fight against homophobia within German football. EGLSF pursued its cooperation with FARE, ILGA-Europe, European Commission and Council of Europe.
Outreach EGLSF’s Regional Outreach activities during 2007 focused on contributing to outreach participation in Antwerp EuroGames and on the continuous work of articulating EGLSF member clubs’ actions in this area. The activities concerning Regional Outreach have concentrated on collecting (best) practices from member clubs in the fields of sports for and integration of HIV+ people and other issues. Furthermore, EGLSF Board keeps on studying the best way of developing social outreach activities.
Rome Annual General Assembly (AGA 2008) From 28th February to 2nd March 2008, EGLSF will hold its next Annual General Assembly (AGA 2008). You can find full information about it at www.eglsf. info/2008AGA [registration is to start on December 19, 2007]. • Gender Equality Conference Prior to AGA 2008, and following the mandate of AGA 2007, EGLSF is organising a “Gender Equality Conference”. For further information, go to www.eglsf.info. • Women Participation EGLSF clubs are requested to favour women participation at AGA facilitating the presence of its women members. • Elections The mandate of three female Board members (Female Co-President and two Board members) ends in March. In order to ease the task of AGA delegates concerning elections, we advise potential candidates to send to EGLSF General Secretary a brief note prior to the AGA. The letter should indicate which position you are running for, including a brief curriculum and presentation, in total one (1) A4 sheet. The General Secretary will forward this message to all EGLSF members. This is by no means a condition
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
for running, and anyone will be able to enter his or her candidature directly at the AGA. However, it will be very helpful for the delegates to know previously the candidates’ profiles. Members clubs are asked to check among their own members for qualified candidates and, if they wish so, to nominate then for the vacant positions. • AGA Draft Agenda and Participation At EGLSF website, you can find AGA draft agenda. Point 12 concerns members’ suggestions. You are invited to propose subjects for discussion under this point as well as items for the agenda and motions. • AGA 2009 host candidates If some club or clubs have already the intention of running for being the 2009 AGA host, it would be advisable if they make their intentions known as soon as possible. In this sense, a small presentation report would be sent to EGLSF General Secretary explaining the grounds for this candidacy, as well as information about venues and other practical issues. EGLSF General Secretary will forward this information to all EGLSF members. 2009 will be 20th anniversary of the creation of EGLSF, and in this perspective, Dutch clubs have already express their intention of presenting The Hague (place of the first AGA and the first EuroGames) as 2009 AGA host.
2008 Membership • Form and Fee You can find at www.eglsf.info the 2008 Membership Form. It will also be sent to all EGLSF members. Please, fill it fully, providing the following information: - Group official postal address. - Official e-mail and website. - Treasurer contact details in order to exchange financial information. - Sports offered and number of men and women at every sport. This information is needed for statistical backgrounds
(perhaps some people do more one sport, so it could be that the members number could be lower than the total per sports). The number of members decides the fee each club has to pay to EGLSF for 2008; the table is enclosed in the membership form. No additional invoice will be sent. Payment instructions are as well enclose in the form. Please, use IBAN number and swift code in order to save costs. EGLSF has to receive the correct and full fee; it means that all costs and bank transfer fees are at each club expenses. • Payment Membership fee 2008 has to be paid by 1st February 2008. Has the fee not been paid by this date, voting rights during the Annual General Assembly will be decided case by case. EGLSF treasurer can monitor payments to the EGLSF account per date. In this sense, it will not be needed to present further proof of payment when registering for AGA. All members are urged to pay as soon as possible and respect the deadline date as a condition of full AGA participation. • EuroGames reduction for members According to EGLSF rules, participants that are members of EGLSF member clubs get reduction from EuroGames registration fee if EGLSF membership fee has been paid for the current year and the precedent. For EuroGames 2008 in Barcelona, it means that membership fee for 2007 and 2008 has to be paid by 1st February 2008. Again, Board will be very strict about this particular issue and, immediately after Rome AGA, information will be sent to Barcelona EuroGames 2008 organisers with the list of members entitled for registration fee reduction. Barcelona 2008 EuroGames team will check with each club if any of registrants are members of the respective clubs. It is urged to all clubs to answer promptly to this request; a lack of answer could mean that all members of the concerned club will not benefit of reduction and be obliged to pay the non-members fee for
the EuroGames. EGLSF Board feels obliged to act this way, taking account of abuses, undue attitude and unfair conduct observed in past EuroGames. We ask for understanding and full cooperation. • Outreach Fee At 2006 Budapest AGA, a reduction was agreed to membership fee for clubs from outreach countries, taking account of the concerned country average income. EGLSF Board, after evaluating the available data, decided to adopt the most favourable approach to the clubs. Here are the countries and the percentage of the due fee to be paid by the clubs from these countries: Bulgaria (20%), Croatia (50%), Hungary (60%), FYR Macedonia (20%), Romania (20%), Russian Federation (30%), Turkey (30%). For any doubt or additional information, please contact EGLSF treasurer (juha@eglsf. info) or general secretary (lou@eglsf.info).
News Section
News submitted by our members
EuroGames 08 registration starts in December 26 November 2007 We want to inform all EGLSF members that registrations for EuroGames Barcelona 2008 will finally start on December 21st. We have been working hard together with a company specialized in registration process for big events in the last months, so that the registration
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
could start as planned. Unfortunately, due to the special characteristics of EuroGames (much more complicated than professional competitions), the preparations of the software have taken much longer than expected, and therefore we couldn’t open registrations during November. In the next days the system will be ready for us to make some tests in order to avoid future problems and the system will be available to accept registrations from December 21st. So, we give you a good chance for a Christmas Gift for your friend, friends, lover... We hope that you will be able to wait still a little bit to register, and don’t forget to check our web site for latest news as we are currently uploading more information about these exciting games. Come South. Play with us!!! http://2008.eurogames.info
Rome Gender Conference 4 December 2007 This is an additional announcement regarding the Rome Gender Conference. If you want to make your travel arrangements now, be aware, that our all-day seminar on gender will be one day before the AGA! What’s it about - you are… … a mixed club, and no matter what you tried, you couldn’t get [more] women to join? … a single-sex club and find it hard to cooperate with your local gay or lesbian partners? … a female or male minority in your club, or in the one you would like to join, and don’t feel welcome, comfortable and represented? … interested to improve the situation and ready to commit yourself to a whole day of playful work and enlightening experience?
Welcome to the first extensive event dedicated to the gender topic in our community! It will start early and in time, and there will be no coming and going. All participants need to be committed to actively contribute to a variety of working groups, exercises and activities. Our professional gender trainers will work out a sophisticated programme to equip you with a maximum of gender knowledge to take home. Food and drink will be provided, as well as time to relax and contemplate. Free accommodation is available to the maximum of 50 participants, thanks to the generosity of our Roman hosts. More detailed info will soon be supplied on our website http://www.eglsf.info/eglsfAGA-2008.php by 2nd week of December, when online registration starts – first registered, first admitted! The maximum of 50 participants will be equally shared between women and men. After February 1st, free places will be given to people on a waiting list. http://www.eglsf.info/2008AGA
Show your support 4 December 2007 Dear members, visitors, fans and other supporters, We have prepared a brand new set of banners which you can use at your websites to show your support. Three standard sizes were chosen (banner, button, skyscraper), and there are two variants for each. This applies to all EGLSF websites: www.eglsf.info, www. eurogames.info and www.gaysport.info. We invite you to choose the banner(s) which you like most, and display them at your website. Alternatively, you can also use our logotypes to link to us. If you need help or require additional materials, please do not hesitate to
contact EGLSF. We appreciate every single link you display :) http://www.eglsf.info/eglsf-banners.html
Seeking Football Supporters 11 December 2007 Football Supporters International (FSI) and Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) are looking for (contact) persons, groups and associations, who have experience and knowledge about football fans in their countries. The aim for us from FSI (and FARE) is to develop preventive measures to combat racism and violence during the event in June 2008. One content will be a ‘fan embassy’ work. We are actually looking for contacts to get more information about the situation in each participating country in the EURO 2008, to build up a fan work and to integrate new ‘professionals’ in our activities during the EURO 2008 championship. We are looking for contacts in the following countries: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Sweden and Turkey. If you are not active directly in football but have contacts to the fan scene or associations working with them, please give us the contacts. We will have some preparatory meetings before the start of the EURO, so that we from FARE and FSI could prepare something with you / your association. Please send your answers to the following e-mail address: cepafsf@hotmail (Thomas Herzog). http://www.footballsupporters.info
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EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
Play with your neighbours
Ballroom Dancing
3rd Nordic Open 2007
14 December 2007
Copenhagen, Denmark 30 Dec – 31 Dec 2007
Melbourne is to host the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames and the Midsumma Festival between January 30 and February 3, 2008. This international multi-sport tournament, human rights conference and cultural festival embraces the Asia Pacific’s gay and lesbian community and its friends. The organisers wish you a pleasant visit to Melbourne and remind you to wear plenty of sunscreen, keep yourself hydrated, eat healthy energy-rich food, reduce your environmental impact, get plenty of sleep before you play with your neighbours and party hard afterwards, playing safe and smart by protecting yourselves.
XIX. Frankfurt Xmas Tournament Traditional LGBT tournament with expected 1200 participants. Since last year we offer additionally to the usual gay-competitions exclusive women’s competitions in Badminton and Volleyball and a mixed competition in Table Tennis. Registration of Eastern European participants may be supported by our Outreach-Program. http://www.fvv.org fvv-xmas@fvv.org
http://www.melbourneoutgames.org Ballroom Dancing
Sports Events Coming up...
Events submitted by our members
Multisports
Frankfurt XmasTournament Frankfurt, Germany 7 Dec – 9 Dec 2007
Dance evening ballroom & latin in Christmas celestial Eindhoven, the Netherlands 21 Dec – 21 Dec 2007 Friday 21 December Kourosdansavond Ballroom & Latin, Christmas celestial Dance location ‘De Harmonie’, Hoogstraat 310, Eindhoven In the longest night of the year Kouros organize a special dance evening. At 20.00 hour starts a dance workshop Argentine Tango At 22.00 till 1.30 hour the time to Dance Ballroom & Latin in a Christmas celestial. Entree: workshop € 10, - (inclusive the dance evening) members, € 12.50 gests. Pre sale € 2,50 members, € 5,00 gests At the door € 5,00 members, € 7,50 gests. Pre sale address: - By every representative of Kouros. - COC, Pand 54. Prins Hendrikstraat 54. - Giro: 4261280 t.n.v. P. Jacobs te Eindhoven. http://www.kouroseindhoven.nl dansen@kouroseindhoven.nl
For the third year in a row, Copenhagen will be hosting the Nordic Open, making the city December’s hottest gay spot once again. What began as an exciting novelty in 2005 is turning into a unique New Years’ tradition in the gay community, attracting hundreds of same sex dancers from all over Europe – and cheering dance-crazed fans filling the spectators’ seats. Dancers from countries such as Germany, Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands will get together on the 30th December to compete for medals in Latin and ballroom dancing. Naturally with glittering spangles, flowing robes and glamourous hairdos. Amongst the competing couples this year will be champions of the Eurogames 2007 in Antwerp. The Copenhagen same sex dance association, PanDans, organisers of the event, have been working harder than ever to attract even more dancers, spectators and internationally acclaimed judges to Copenhagen in December. This year’s event promises to be the most exciting and competitive yet. Nordic Open 2007 is to be held December 30. & 31. in DGI-byen, Copenhagen. http://www.pandans.dk/NordicOpen.htm pandans_styrer@groupcare.dk
EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation
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12/07: December 2007
International Campaigns
Tennis
Turin Tennis Tournament
We briefly remind you of two international campaigns which take place in the beginning of new year:
Moncalieri (Turin), Italy 26 Jan – 27 Jan 2008
One Day in Peace: Jan 1 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust: Jan 27
Organised in collaboration with A.T.Omo. from Milan, I invite you to participate in Turin Tennis Tournament on the last weekend of January, from 26th to 27th. It’s not a GLTA tournament, but it has a good tradition in the Italian gay tennis scenario. 3 draws are available: 1) “Open/A” for players in Open and A GLTA ranking; 2) “B” for players in B and High C level GLTA ranking; 3) “C” for players in C and D level GLTA ranking. Contact me for more information. http://www.atomoitalia.org nicolatato@yahoo.it
Multisports
1st Asia Pacific Outgames 2008 Melbourne, Australia 30 Jan – 3 Feb2008
Melbourne, Australia is to host the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames in 2008. Multisport tournaments (including Badminton, Dancesport, Field Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Rowing, Run, Swimming, Ten Pin Bowling,Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo), a Cultural component and a Human Rights Conference are planned as part of the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames. There’s also a vast number of premier events taking place as part of the Midsumma Festival, which is one of Australia’s largest cultural events. Melbourne and its thriving GLBT community are looking forward to welcoming participants and their friends from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region including New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and many other countries. http://www.melbourneoutgames.org info@melbourneoutgames.org
HAPPY HOLIDAYS & ALL THE BEST IN 2008!
Photos: Public non-copyrighted
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 This newsletter is published by the EGLSF. EGLSF is registered as non-profit sports organisation with the Chamber of Commerce in The Hague under number V40413152. EGLSF enjoys the participatory status with the Council of Europe.