EuroGames 2023 in Bern: Queer top athletes support the event
The EuroGames have been held since 1992. They are always held in a different European city. The individual competitions and disciplines at this event have a very special motto: diversity and inclusion.
The organizers have made it their goal to give more visibility to queer people, among others. But of course, everyone else is welcome as well.
The next EuroGames will take place in Bern and will have new ambassadors in the form of Maja Neuenschwander (marathon runner), Christa Wittwer (javelin thrower), Marco Lehmann (basketball player) and Curdin Orlik (basketball player). Some of them are still active in professional sports, others are not. Nevertheless, they have one thing in common: they are queer.
The EuroGames 2023: Around 3500 participants and attendees expected
More than 3500 male and female participants are expected to attend the sports event. The above mentioned ambassadors of EuroGames 2023 are all openly homosexual and they are sure that diversity and inclusion are still a big issue.
Participants will compete in 27 different sports from July 26 to 29, 2023. Among others, badminton, soccer, athletics, chess, roller derby, volleyball and "Quidditch" from the Harry Potter universe will be represented.
Part of the competition is also aimed at non-binary participants. In addition, queer people and also cis-heterosexual people of all abilities can apply for the event. Therefore, it should already be clear that the field of athletes will be "colorful" in the truest sense of the word.
Not "only" sport, but also an important message
The ambassadors of the EuroGames 2023 in Bern not only want all participating people to have a lot of fun, but also want to send an important message so that the sports world shows more tolerance and acceptance towards queer people in the future.
The ambassadors of the event play a particularly important role in this context. They are so authentic simply because they themselves are openly gay or lesbian and have extensive experience in professional sports.
Maja Neuenschwander successfully competed for Switzerland in several marathons and is openly homosexual. Javelin thrower Christa Wittwer is a five-time champion and also loves a woman. The two basketball players Curdin Orlik and Marco Lehmann are still active as professional athletes. Orlik publicly outed himself as homosexual in 2020, Lehmann a year later.
None of the ambassadors has "harmed" to stand by themselves. On the contrary: The EuroGames 2023 can also look forward to strong representatives this year, who have certainly become role models for many ... or will become so in the future.
The EuroGames 2023 in Bern: An event for more tolerance
Among other things, the EuroGames are supposed to be a chance for queer people to play sports together with cis-heterosexual people ... and for exactly that to be considered "absolutely normal."
The more participants register for the EuroGames, the more fun it will be and the more effective the important message will be. Those who wish to register can do so easily on the event's homepage.
Of course, the organizers are also happy about general interest in the event. Not everyone who wants to support queer sports or shared sports is a professional at the same time.
But that's probably what it's all about: a special feeling of togetherness - regardless of the individual's background.
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