2009

The FARE Action Week unites supporters, clubs and those targeted by racism across the continent in a concerted effort to make discrimination a thing of the past. The Action Week of the Football Against Racism in Europe network aims to boost public awareness of the problems of racism and exclusion and to create a united front in dealing with this malign influence on Europe's number one sport. The idea behind the FARE Action Week is that a wide range of initiatives and activities address local problems within their club or community, while also joining groups across the continent to present [...]

The organizers of the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, announced yesterday that more than 1,700 athletes and artists have now registered to participate in the quadrennial sports & cultural event next July and August. Participants from more than 30 nations have already signed up including many from Eastern European countries where many who are openly gay or lesbian are still persecuted. Participation by the host country Germany leads all other nations with registrations from the United States and The Netherlands following close behind. “Registrations have increased substantially in the last few months,” said Annette Wachter, CEO of Games Cologne. [...]

Footballer Andrei Arshavin is the latest high profile celebrity to back the Council of Europe’s ‘Speak Out Against Discrimination’ campaign on the Campaign's newly launched website. The 28 year old Arsenal and Russia midfielder said that football is "a sport which gives every player the chance to compete on the basis of ability. This is how life should be." The endorsement is a boost to the 16 September launch of the campaign in Moscow and is the highlight of the organisation’s newly redesigned anti-discrimination website. The campaign is supported by several celebrities around Europe and abroad, including Alexander Rybak, Singer, [...]

Following an invitation from Outgames 2009, on Monday, 27 July, 30 participants attended the FGG Session on "The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture". Both global LGBT sports organisations - Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and Gay & Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) attended the meeting. Representatives of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) were also present. At the session, a statement, joined by a petition was presented, encouraging organisation of (only) one quadrennial LGBT sports event in the future. No concrete suggestions were given regarding exact structure or organisation but there is a strong interest in dialogue [...]

Under the slogan Love of Freedom - Freedom to Love, Copenhagen hosted the 2nd World Outgames this summer. Between July 25 and August 2, over 5,500 LGBT athletes from 92 countries participated at this world sporting event. Backed up by the City of Copenhagen, several key partners, and the thousands of volunteers, the athletes and the visitors could enjoy 2,200 events and compete in 1,800 events in 34 sports. According to the organisers, World Outgames 2009 was a smashing success socially, politically and economically. The final report is expected to end with a neutral or positive outcome. Speaking of organisers [...]