EGLSF Newsletter 10-07: October 2007

10/07: October 2007

Internal affairs

Barcelona Board MeetingAlmost all board members (except one; due to an injury) attended the board meeting which took place from September 28 to 30, 2007 in Barcelona. One of the main goals of the meeting was to visit the sport venues for EuroGames 2008 and to discuss a series of issues concerning EuroGames, e.g. sports, security, and conference, with the organizing team from the club Panteres Grogues.

EGLSF Board members were also invited to a reception at the Town Hall by the Lord Mayor of Barcelona and a reception for meeting representatives of the Catalan government – the city government and the federal government support EuroGames 2008 financially and in other ways.

While a more profound report will form part of the next newsletter, the board wants to

express its gratitude to Panteres Grogues for the excellent organization of our visit.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Theodor Seuss GeiselDr. Seuss - Writer/cartoonist

Summer endsOctober is here, and with it the new study year came along. We especially greet the students and invite them to actively participate in LGBTIQ sports. For more information, locate the nearest sports club, or contact us to help you find one. Enjoy the October issue of our newsletter, and we look forward to hearing from you (student or not).

ContentsINTERNAL AFFAIRS

SPORTS

ADVOCACY

NEWS SECTION

SPORTS EVENTS COMING UP...

EGLSF Newsletter: News & Information from European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation

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We encourage all members to register for EuroGames 2008; please make sure that you as a member club have paid your fee for 2007 (and pay your fee for 2008), or else your members will have to pay the full fee for participating in EuroGames 2008. The registration starts in November at http://2008.eurogames.info!

Apart from EuroGames 2008, the board discussed an amendment of the bid book for future EuroGames, i.e. the bid book should include guidelines for the organization of the competitions in the individual sports in order to create homogeneous and transparent. The results of the board’s work on this topic will presented at the AGA 2008 in Rome.

The next board meeting will take place in Milan, Italy from November 2-4, 2007.

SportsIt’s all about footballWhile the 2007 International Gay and Lesbian Football World Championship (soccer for our American readers) took place from September 23-29 in South America, the pan-European campaign Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) is about to kick off. The campaign this year focuses greater participation of ethnic minorities and migrants; inclusion of women and girls, and action against homophobia in the game.

EGLSF is a core partner in the FARE network, and therefore invites all our members to celebrate football as it was intended - fun and focused on the game. Some of our members are also participating with their own programmes.

http://www.farenet.org

WinterAlthough the call for bids for the Winter EuroGames is still open (and member clubs are kindly requested to show their interest by emailing [email protected]), the Danish club Pan Idraet is planning to organise a gay ski week in March 2008 in Ischgl, Austria. More information is available by emailing [email protected].

AdvocacyFall International CampaignsThere are several major international HR campaigns taking place in the fall. We just briefly remind you of some of them:

Coming out day: October 11 Stand up and speak out against poverty: October 17 Football Against Racism in Europe: October 17-30 International day against fascism and anti-Semitism: November 9

NewsSectionNews submitted by our members

Argentina wins IGLFA Championship8 October 2007

Buenos Aires was the host to this year’s International Gay and Lesbian Football World Championships, which kicked off with a giant, nightclub party.

More than just a competition, the Gay World Cup is about awareness of sexual discrimination and also offers a chance for the competitors to socialise.

Fourteen nations were represented in 28 teams this year, one of the biggest showings in the competition’s 10-year history. Countries could send more than one team each and the biggest contingents were from the United States and the United Kingdom. Women’s competition was unfortunately cancelled

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due to a poor team sign-up.

Most of the players said their own World Cup gives them a chance to play the sport they love without fear of discrimination. “It looks like we’re up four some pretty challenging soccer. The skill level looks pretty intimidating at this point. So our expectation is that we are going to learn a lot of soccer in the next couple of days,” said Canadian Oliver Chacola. “We’re here to win. We’re feeling pretty good,” said London Titans player Richard Cowell. “We have seen some of the competition. They are looking scared so I think we can win. Go Titans!”

In the end, the Argentina’s Los Dogos captured the gay football world cup, defeating British title-holders Stonewall 1-0.

Buenos Aires was the first Latin American country to host a Gay World Cup, which in previous years has been celebrated in cities like London, New York and Sydney. The proximity gave Latin teams a chance to participate - in fact, it was the first time Latin American teams played in the tournament. With their victory, Los Dogos, named after an Argentine dog breed, automatically qualified for the 2008 tournament hosted next year by London.

http://www.iglfa2007.org

Registration opens in november7 October 2007

EuroGames Barcelona 2008 will open on-line registration in November 2008. There will be 27 sports, a wide cultural program, a great inauguration and closing ceremony, as well as an international conference on “Sports and Homophobia”. You will find all budgets accommodation in our website, from where you can make your reservation. Registration for the EuroGames costs €55 for EGLSF

member clubs and €66 for all others. The registration includes entry to opening and closing ceremonies as well as participation in the selected sport, entrance to the EuroGames Grand Fiesta and a welcome kit. It doesn’t include brunch. It may also be possible to obtain tickets for cultural and leisure activities as well as for public transport. There’s as well an outreach programme, especially for those coming from the Mediterranean countries.

Come south, play with us!

http://2008.eurogames.info

Farewell to Ivan Bussens15 September 2007

Ivan Bussens, one of the key figures driving gay sporting clubs to prominence in London during the past decade, died after a yearlong fight against cancer on August 27. He was 47.

Bussens battled a form of lymphoma into remission last year then suffered a relapse during the past few months. He died at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London with his partner of 26 years, Peter Unsworth, by his side.

Bussens joined Out to Swim in 1993 and helped transform a small group training for the New York Gay Games the next year into Britain’s largest swimming club.

“Ivan was an inspiration to many of us and spent many an hour coaching,” said Michelle Weltman, head coach of Out to Swim. “Ivan had a way with swimmers, showing compassion that encouraged many swimmers to keep going even though they thought they were not good enough.”

He co-founded the Out for Sport umbrella organization representing gay clubs in London and promoted its first multi-sport competition, including running, swimming,

rowing and water polo. He represented London before the Federation of Gay Games for the past five years and served on a number of other international sporting associations.

Bussens is survived by Unsworth and his two parents. Funeral services were held Monday September 3rd, 2007 at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Heydon.

Sports Events Coming up...Events submitted by our members

Football/Soccer

FARE Action WeekEurope 16 Oct – 30 Oct 2007

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Every season, the FARE Network coordinates action against racism in and around football stadiums across Europe. In a massive show of strength, fans, ethnic minority groups and football clubs all stand united against discrimination.

http://www.farenet.org [email protected]

Running

Magdeburg MarathonMagdeburg, Germany 21 Oct – 21 Oct 2007

Hi! I want to invite you to Magdeburgs greatest sport event. The Magdeburg Marathon at 2007-10-21 in Magdeburg/Germany Marathon/Halfmarathon/13-km-running/Halfmarathon-Walking/13-km-Walking.

http://www.magdeburg-marathon.eu [email protected]

Meeting

FGG 25th Anniversary and Annual meetingSan Francisco, USA 24 Oct – 29 Oct 2007

From 24 to 29 October, the Federation of Gay Games will meet in the city where the Gay Games began: San Francisco. This annual meeting is historic on at least two levels. First, the meeting and surrounding events will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the first Gay Games. Second, this will be the first annual meeting since the 2006 annual meeting in Lyon when the

organisation voted to adopt modified bylaws, the first major restructuring of the FGG in years. The other major issues covered during those five days included reports and meetings of all committees, subcommittees and advisory boards. Elections were also held, under the newly-adopted structure. The new Federation Board will no doubt have much to report to the Assembly at the 2007 annual meeting in San Francisco.

http://www.gaygames.org/25 [email protected]

Multisports

Sofia-Tangra OpenSofia, Bulgaria 26 Oct – 28 Oct 2007

3. International Multisport-tournament in B and C Level for Volleyball, Badminton and Bowling. EUR 35,00 incl. foreigner get private hosted, welcome drink and snack on Friday, tickets for public transportation, free entrance for winner party, farewell brunch on Sunday.

http://www.tangra-sport.org [email protected]

Multisports

Smash & Splash Tournament 2007Eindhoven, Netherlands 26 Oct – 28 Oct 2007

The annual Kouros Smash and Splash Tournament comes to venues in the Netherlands. Gay and lesbian Eindhoven gets smashing with volleyball, tennis, badminton and squash, as well as getting

into the swim of things for the aquatic competitions. The competition has an international flavour, attracting sportsmen and women from all around Europe. The weekend also features a lunch, a party and a special brunch.

http://smashsplash.kouroseindhoven.nl [email protected]

Volleyball

LIVE 2007London, United Kingdom 26 Oct – 28 Oct 2007

London International Volleyball Extravaganza LIVE 2007 is an intimate tournament which offers three levels (A , B and C) of competitive and fun volleyball. This is going to be the third year we organise this tournament and we would like to welcome all of you.

http://www.londonspikers.org [email protected]

Badminton

1st Tigaly tournamentLyon, France 2 Nov – 4 Nov 2007

The CARGO club (Gay Multisport Association in Rhône-Alpes) organises its first TIGALY. This first tournament will welcome a badminton competition in one of the best sports centers of the city (close partner of the event). You will found all informations, tournament details, program, accommodation and online registration in the TIGALY website.

http://www.tigaly.com [email protected]

Contact UsEuropean Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF)c/o NCSMeeuwenlaan 41NL-1021 HS AmsterdamThe [email protected]

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.

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Running

14th Annual Race to DeliverNew York, USA 18 Nov – 18 Nov 2007

Entering its fourteenth year, the Race to Deliver is God’s Love We Deliver’s largest annual fundraiser. Since its inception, over 50,000 New Yorkers have joined us in Central Park to raise over $7 million, providing more than three million meals for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. The Race to Deliver is an event for the whole family, featuring a 4-Mile Run/Walk, a shorter Health Walk option and a Kids Fun Run with special distances for all age groups.

http://www.racetodeliver.org [email protected]

Swimming

Swim for LifeBrussels, Belgium 23 Nov – 25 Nov 2007

Please support our 12th edition of the swimming marathon against AIDS. Visit www.swimforlife.be and choose a team.

http://www.swimforlife.be [email protected]

Volleyball

Netzo Sinterklaastoernooi 2007Amsterdam, the Netherlands 23 Nov – 25 Nov 2007

The Famous Annual Amsterdam Volleyball Tournament! With allmost 400 participants, and equal participation of Men and Women.

http://www.netzo-amsterdam.nl [email protected]

Ballroom Dancing

Rainbow Trophy 2007Hannover, Germany 24 Nov – 24 Nov 2007

We invite you to the 6th same sex - ballroom event in Hannover.

http:// www.tanzart-hannover.de [email protected]

Badminton

Auricula Open 14Ghent, Belgium 30 Nov – 2 Dec 2007

Badminton for life: Yearly Badminton Tournament in Auricula - Ghent.

http://www.auricula.be/auriculaopen [email protected]

Photos: Page 1: Andrej Pisl Others: public non-copyrighted

10/07: October 2007