EGLSF Grants 2026

The first subgranting call under GAME for Inclusion Europe has attracted significant attention from our community, resulting in 9 selected projects from EGLSF members across 8 European countries.

The proposals offer various ways to make sports more inclusive, such as grassroots events, community outreach, advocacy efforts, and organisational improvements. Together, they demonstrate a growing commitment to ensuring LGBTQI+ individuals can participate in sports safely, openly, and equally.

This call is part of “UNITED in Sport: A European Plan for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion (2026)”, co-funded by the European Union (CERV Programme). The initiative goes beyond financial support. It aims to connect local action with a broader European movement, enabling organisations to share knowledge, build partnerships, and expand their reach.

At its heart, UNITED is about impact. Projects supported by this programme will not only benefit their immediate communities but also contribute to a broader shift in how inclusion is understood and practised in sport. Through events, storytelling, and ongoing communication across networks, the programme is expected to reach thousands of people, including local clubs and volunteers, as well as institutions and policymakers.

We sincerely thank every organisation that applied. The variety, creativity, and dedication reflected in each proposal showcase the strength of the EGLSF community and its crucial part in building a more inclusive future for sport across Europe.

Read more about the selected projects below.

Project Name: Diversity in Motion

EGLSF Sport Club: Asociación Deportiva Cierzo proLGTB+

Country: Spain

Project timeline: 20.05.2026 – 30.09.2026

a) What is the project about?

Diversity in Motion will work to make sport more accessible to LGBTQI+ people with mobility impairments in Zaragoza and the surrounding region. The organisation, which has extensive experience promoting LGBTQI+ inclusion in sport, identified that people living at the intersection of disability, sexual orientation and gender identity continue to face significant barriers to participation.

To address this gap, the project will combine community outreach, training and inclusive sporting activities. Working closely with local organisations of people with disabilities, the club will organise knowledge-exchange meetings and deliver training sessions for volunteers, coaches and community members on accessible and adapted sport. Participants will then take part in a series of inclusive sport sessions designed for people with and without mobility impairments. By creating a sporting environment where accessibility is built into the activity itself, the project seeks to promote equal participation, strengthen community connections and demonstrate how grassroots sport can become more inclusive for everyone.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to reduce barriers preventing LGBTQI+ people with mobility impairments from participating in sport, while strengthening the club's capacity to deliver accessible activities. It also seeks to raise awareness of intersectional discrimination and encourage greater collaboration between LGBTQI+ organisations and disability-sector partners. Through its pilot activities, Diversity in Motion hopes to establish a sustainable adapted sports programme and provide a practical example of how community sport can advance inclusion, participation and social cohesion.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://cierzolgtb.org/
Email: almadajuancruz@gmail.com
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/cierzolgtb/

Project Name: Rugby Welcomes Rome: Toolkit & Pilot Open Training for Inclusion

EGLSF Sport Club: Libera Rugby Club

Country: Italy

Project timeline: 01.06.2026 – 31.10.2026

a) What is the project about?

This initiative will help transform interest in LGBTQI+-inclusive rugby into active participation and long-term membership. While many people are curious about joining community sports clubs, concerns about discrimination, changing facilities, physical contact and unfamiliar sporting environments can prevent them from taking the first step.

The project addresses these challenges by combining a pilot open training event with the development of a practical inclusion toolkit for the club. The open training session will provide newcomers with a welcoming and supportive introduction to rugby, while the toolkit will establish clear procedures for welcoming participants, managing safeguarding issues and promoting respectful behaviour. 

The initiative builds on Libera Rugby Club's commitment to creating safe spaces for LGBTQI+ people and allies and translates inclusion principles into everyday club practice. By creating a more structured and transparent approach to participation, the project seeks to strengthen trust, confidence and accessibility within grassroots rugby.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to increase participation in LGBTQI+ inclusive rugby by making first experiences of the sport safer, clearer, and more welcoming. It seeks to improve newcomer retention, strengthen safeguarding procedures, and create practical resources that can be used beyond the project's lifetime. Ultimately, the initiative aims to support sustainable membership growth while providing a model of inclusive practice that can be shared with other grassroots sports organisations.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://liberarugbyclub.it/
Email: press@liberarugbyclub.it
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/LiberaRugbyClub/; https://instagram.com/liberarugby

Project Name: Building a Team for Diversity & Awareness

EGLSF Sport Club: Startschuss Queer Sport Hamburg

Country: Germany

Project timeline: 15.05.2026 – 31.10.2026

a) What is the project about?

Startschuss Queer Sport Hamburg is one of Germany's largest LGBTQI+ sports clubs, with more than 1,000 members across 25 sporting disciplines. Although the club has evolved significantly since its foundation in 1990, its leadership recognises that some groups, including FLINTA members, trans and non-binary people, younger members and international participants, remain underrepresented in both sporting activities and decision-making processes.

This project aims to establish a permanent Diversity Team formally embedded within the club's governance structure. Through research, consultation and community engagement, the team will work closely with members to identify barriers to participation and representation. It will recruit and support representatives from underrepresented groups, establish mechanisms to address conflicts and discrimination, and develop a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for the coming years. By strengthening participation and representation within the organisation, the project seeks to ensure that the club's governance and culture better reflect the diversity of its membership and the wider LGBTQI+ community.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to create more equitable opportunities for participation, leadership and representation within the club. It will establish sustainable governance structures that support diversity, improve member engagement and help address exclusion and discrimination. Through the development of a two-year Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, the initiative seeks to strengthen the club's long-term capacity to foster a welcoming environment for all members and to contribute to broader discussions on inclusion in sport.

c) Project contact details
Website: startschuss.org
Email: awareness@startschuss.org 
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/stories/startschuss.hamburg/

Project Name: Swim Together: Strengthening LGBTQI+ Inclusion and Diversity in Czech Aquatics

EGLSF Sport Club: Aquamen Prague

Country: Czech Republic

Project timeline: 18.05.2026 – 31.10.2026

a) What is the project about?

Swim Together is a comprehensive initiative led by Aquamen Prague, the Czech Republic's only LGBTQI+ swimming club. The project addresses a range of barriers that continue to limit participation in sport, including challenges linked to nationality, age, geography, and sexual orientation. Through a combination of governance improvements, community outreach and sporting activities, the initiative aims to strengthen inclusion within Czech aquatics while expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups.

The project encompasses running a visibility campaign, including representation at the annual Prague Pride, conducting targeted outreach to Ukrainian refugees, older adults and LGBTQI+ people living outside major cities, and hosting a series of open swimming sessions for newcomers. It also includes the introduction of a digital club management system to improve internal organisational capacity. By combining practical organisational development with direct community engagement, Swim Together seeks to strengthen the club and the wider ecosystem of inclusive sport in the Czech Republic. The initiative also aims to increase visibility for LGBTQI+ athletes and create new pathways into swimming for people who may otherwise feel excluded from traditional sporting environments.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to make swimming more accessible and inclusive for diverse communities while strengthening Aquamen Prague's long-term sustainability. It seeks to improve governance, increase LGBTQI+ visibility, attract new participants from underrepresented groups and create welcoming opportunities for people entering the sport for the first time. Through these efforts, the project hopes to expand participation and strengthen inclusion within the club.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://aquamen.eu/
Email: info@aquamen.eu
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/aquamen_prague/

Project Name: MOVE & LEAD – FLINTA in Sport

EGLSF Sport Club: Queer Sport

Country: Croatia

Project timeline: 15.06.2026 – 31.10.2026

a) What is the project about?

This community-driven initiative empowers FLINTA participants through sport, leadership development and collective learning. At the heart of the project is a three-day Sport and Leadership Camp in Fužine (Croatia), designed to provide a safe, supportive environment for participants to explore physical activity, personal growth and community engagement.

The programme combines recreational sport, outdoor activities and interactive workshops covering topics such as body awareness, communication, confidence-building and leadership. 

With a strong focus on young participants, the project seeks to address barriers that often prevent FLINTA individuals from fully engaging in sport, including discrimination, exclusion and restrictive gender norms. Through a participatory approach that values lived experience and peer learning, the initiative creates opportunities for participants to strengthen their skills, build supportive networks and develop greater confidence both within and beyond sporting environments.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to increase sport participation among FLINTA communities while supporting personal development and leadership skills. It seeks to create safer, more inclusive sporting environments, strengthen confidence and communication, and encourage participants to take active roles within their communities. The initiative also aims to foster long-term community connections and contribute to a more inclusive grassroots sports culture in Croatia.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://hr.qsport.info/
Email: qs_weekend@qsport.info;  iva@qsport.info
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/qsport.info; https://www.instagram.com/queer_sport_zagreb/

Project Name: Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Volunteer Leadership in Pan Idræt

EGLSF Sport Club: Pan Idræt Hovedstaden, København

Country: Denmark

Project timeline: 15.05.2026 – 01/10/2026

a) What is the project about?

Pan Idræt Copenhagen is Denmark's largest LGBTQI+ sports organisation and has played a leading role in creating inclusive sporting opportunities for more than four decades. As the organisation continues to grow, it faces the challenge of ensuring that its volunteer-led structure remains sustainable, effective and capable of meeting the evolving needs of its diverse membership.

This project focuses on strengthening the organisation's volunteer leadership pipeline and improving governance across the club. Building on lessons from the EGLSF-led PLUSS project, Pan Idræt will develop and pilot a structured leadership programme to support current and future volunteers. The initiative will provide practical tools, training and guidance to help volunteers take on leadership responsibilities with confidence, while promoting inclusive membership practices. By investing in people and organisational development, the project aims to ensure that Pan Idræt can continue to provide welcoming, high-quality sporting environments for LGBTQI+ people and allies, while sharing valuable knowledge and resources with the wider EGLSF network.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Pan Idræt by improving volunteer leadership and governance structures. It seeks to equip volunteers with the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles and to promote more inclusive membership practices throughout the organisation. Through the development of practical tools and training resources, the initiative will enhance the member experience and generate knowledge that can be shared with other LGBTQI+ sports organisations across Europe.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://panidraet.dk/en/about-the-pan-indraet/sports-policy-work/game-project/
Email: eu@panidraet.dk
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/panidraet; https://www.instagram.com/panidraet/

Project Name: PAS CU PAS: Expanding the Map of LGBTQI+ Sports in  Romania

EGLSF Sport Club: Asocia?ia Club Sportiv Ocazional

Country: Romania

Project timeline: 25.05.2026 – 19.10.2026

a) What is the project about?

PAS CU PAS: Expanding the Map of LGBTQI+ Sports in Romania is a national capacity-building initiative led by Club Sportiv Ocazional, Romania's only officially registered LGBTQI+ sports club. The project responds to the limited availability of LGBTQI+-inclusive sports organisations across the country and seeks to support the development of new groups, activities and networks beyond the capital city.

The initiative combines research, knowledge-sharing and practical training to help individuals and organisations interested in creating inclusive sporting opportunities in their local communities. Activities will include mapping interest in LGBTQI+ sport across Romania, developing a practical guide for organising inclusive sports activities, and producing a dedicated resource on establishing an LGBTQI+ sports club. Representatives from emerging groups and community organisations will then take part in a two-day workshop focused on good practices, opportunities for European collaboration, and hands-on learning through participation in sports activities. By creating opportunities for learning and networking, the project aims to strengthen the foundations of the LGBTQI+ sports movement in Romania.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to increase the number of LGBTQI+ sports initiatives across Romania while strengthening the capacity of local groups and community leaders. It seeks to provide practical tools, training and support that enable participants to organise inclusive sporting activities in their own communities. Through advocacy, networking and knowledge-sharing, the initiative also aims to increase the visibility of LGBTQI+ sport and contribute to a stronger and more connected national movement.

c) Project contact details
Website: http://clubsportivocazional.ro
Email: contact@clubsportivocazional.ro; oanakoulpy@gmail.com
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/csocazional; https://www.instagram.com/clubsportivocazional/

Project Name: Laufen GEGEN Rechts - Run AGAINST the Right 

EGLSF Sport Club: Seitenwechsel Sportverein für Frauen Lesben Trans* Inter* und Mädchen

Country: Germany

Project timeline: 15/05/2026 – 01/07/2026

a) What is the project about?

This is an inclusive charity run organised by Seitenwechsel, a Berlin-based queer-feminist sports club with a long history of promoting participation, empowerment and social inclusion through sport. It is not just a sporting event but also a public demonstration of solidarity, diversity and democratic values, bringing together people from different backgrounds in a shared commitment to inclusion and respect.

The event will offer multiple distances, including routes for children, families, runners, walkers and participants using mobility aids, ensuring that people of different ages, abilities and fitness levels can take part. Participation is by voluntary donation, with proceeds supporting a Berlin-based platform for queer young people. By combining physical activity with public engagement, the event creates a visible, accessible space where participants can celebrate diversity, strengthen community connections and express support for human rights and equality. Through its broad, intersectional approach, the project demonstrates how sport can serve as a platform for civic participation and social cohesion.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to promote inclusion, diversity and respect, strengthening solidarity within and beyond LGBTIQ+ communities. It seeks to create an accessible event that welcomes participants of all ages, genders and abilities, and to raise awareness of the importance of human rights and democratic values. By supporting queer youth initiatives and bringing together a large and diverse audience, the project aims to foster community engagement and encourage positive social change.

c) Project contact details
Website: https://www.seitenwechsel-berlin.de/projekte/lauf-gegen-rechts
E-Mail: zusammen-laufen-gegen-rechts@seitenwechsel-berlin.de
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/seitenwechsel_berlin; https://www.facebook.com/people/Seitenwechsel-eV/100063669578361  

Project Name: Inclusive Football Against LGBTQIphobia and Racism

EGLSF Sport Club: Marseille Rainbow Sport

Country: France

Project timeline: 13.06.2026 – 26.09.2026

a) What is the project about?

It’s a community-focused football that brings together LGBTQI+ people, migrants and allies through sport. The project recognises that many individuals still face barriers to participation due to discrimination, social exclusion or limited access to welcoming sporting environments. By organising a free, inclusive football event, MARS aims to provide a positive space where participants can connect, play and build relationships across communities.

The tournament will feature mixed and gender-inclusive teams, deliberately composed to encourage interaction, cooperation and mutual understanding rather than competition alone. Particular attention will be given to the participation and leadership of LGBTQI+ migrants, many of whom have already been involved in local and European initiatives that promote inclusion and youth engagement. Through football, the project seeks to strengthen social connections, challenge stereotypes and demonstrate the power of sport as a tool for community building and inclusion.

b) What does it aim to achieve?

The project aims to combat discrimination in football and increase participation among LGBTQI+ people, migrants and other groups who are often excluded from sport. It seeks to strengthen community cohesion, raise awareness of LGBTQIphobia and racism, and promote cooperation between sports organisations and social support services. By creating meaningful opportunities for participation and leadership, the initiative hopes to build a more inclusive local sporting community and inspire future collaborative action.

c) Project contact details
Website: [mars13.org]
Email: marseillerainbowsport@gmail.com
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marseillerainbowsport; https://www.instagram.com/marseillerainbowsport/

The “GAME for Inclusion Europe” initiative is funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, reinforcing broader European efforts to promote equality and protect fundamental rights across society, including in sport.