London Frontrunners co-president Andrew tells us why the club is proud to support the EuroGames London 2025 bid.
From Paris to Berlin, Stockholm to Budapest, The EuroGames have been bringing together Europe’s LGBT+ athletes for the past 30 years.
‘The EuroGames are Europe’s largest LGBT+ sports tournament,’ says London Frontrunners co-president Andrew.
‘The first one was in 1992 in the Hague, and they’ve been held most years since – though they’ll avoid years when there’s a global event such as the Gay Games.’
That first games in the Netherlands attracted around 300 athletes, but the biggest events since have seen over 5,000 participants competing.
Backing the bid
While the games are overseen by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), bids to organise them are put in by local organisations, explains Andrew.
‘Out For Sport, an umbrella organisation representing London’s LGBT+ sports clubs, has put a bid in for 2025.’
Out for Sport’s 52 member clubs represent more than 30 sports and activities, from golf and cricket to line dancing and synchronised swimming.
If the London bid wins, each of those club will be responsible for the sports event they represent.
‘The London bid has already secured venues, including some on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,’ says Andrew.
Building momentum
London Frontrunners, along with the Pride Run committee, are working with Out for Sport on preparing the details of the running events for the bid, Andrew explains.
‘And we’re generally lending our name to the bid to try to build momentum among the London LGBT+ sports community,’ he says.
‘The London Frontrunners Committee are keen to see the club play an active role in international sports tournaments, as we are one of the world’s largest LGBT+ sports clubs.’
It’s also a great opportunity, says Andrew, to promote LGBT+ sports around the globe.
A first for the UK
Holding the EuroGames in London would be a first.
‘EuroGames has never been held in the UK before,’ says Andrew, ‘but Germany and the Netherlands have each hosted three.
‘Not only that, but it was announced over Christmas that Birmingham’s bid to host in 2024 lost out to Vienna, which means London 2025 is the only UK bid for a future games.’
Out for Sport has said it’s shaping the bid around three values: a community-led games, a fun festival spirit, and a real legacy.
Commenting on the bid, Alex Davis and Matthew Hill of the Bid Organising Committee said: ‘After the upheaval of the past couple of years, Out for Sport’s clubs are keener than ever to show that London is everyone’s city, and to welcome the world to our home.’
To find out more about the bid and how you can support it, follow London 2025 EuroGames on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.