EuroGames, the European Gay & Lesbian Championships, is an European sporting event governed by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) held in non GayGames or OutGames years. It is the biggest athletic event for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe. The 14th EuroGames were held in Budapest, Hungary from June 27 to July 1, 2012. For previous editions of the EuroGames, please see our history page. In 2013 and 2014 two global LGBT sports events were held, there were no EuroGames in these two years. In 2013 (Outgames Antwerp) and 2014 (Gay Games in Cleveland & Acron, USA). Next EuroGames will be in 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden and in 2016 in Helsinki, Finland
Goals Of EuroGames
Once a year the EGLSF celebrates a huge European gay sport event: EuroGames, the European Gay & Lesbian Championships. Besides offering a high-quality sport event to the gay and lesbian sports community, EGLSF wishes to promote the following goals, also through the EuroGames:
- fight against discrimination in sport on grounds of sexual preference
- stimulate integration in sport and emancipation of lesbians and gays
- enable and support the coming out of gay and lesbian sports men and women
- support the founding of new gay, lesbian, straight and mixed groups
No discrimination
The EuroGames are open to everyone who wishes to participate, regardless of gender, age, race, sexual prefence etc. It is an open event, while still being mindful of the feasabilty of organising sports for certain groups and the organisational capacity of the host (organising committee).
Participants
In past EuroGames, participants from all areas of Europe, and even outside Europe, participated in this unique event. However, to ensure that as many Europeans as possible can take part in this event, participants from outside Europe are put on a waiting list until registatration has closed. These people can join the competitions that are not yet full.
Who
Every year, the EGLSF calls for candidates to host the EuroGames two years later (to allow sufficient time to organise the event). A candidate should be member of the European Federation for some time and have experience with organising of sport events. At the Annual General Assembly (March), the decision is taken by the membership of the EGLSF which candidate will be the host to the EuroGames.
EuroGames Hymn – We Are Leaving
The organisers of the 1996 Berlin EuroGames were so kind to present the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation with an official hymn (anthem) for the EuroGames. This hymn is called 'We are leaving (Oveture)' and performed by the Swedish group Polaris. Download MP3