LYON ELECTED
AS EUROGAMES 2025 HOST CITY

The EuroGames – Europe largest multisport event dedicated to diversity and inclusion– will take place in Lyon from July 23rd to 26th, 2025. The decision was announced last Sunday, voted by the EGLSF General Assembly (European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation).

With those EuroGames, Lyon 2025, the hosting organization aim to bring together nearly 4,000 to 5,000 athletes and visitors from all over Europe. “The 2025 EuroGames in Lyon will contribute to bridging countries, communities, people sharing values of inclusion, diversity, tolerance, promoting a better society” says Cedric Lemarié, President of CARGO the Largest LGBT+ sport organization in France. As a reference, more than half of the 23 proposed sport competitions will be supported by the OSL (Lyon Sport Office) and “mainstream” sport associations. “I was amazed by the wave of supports coming from the OSL sport associations willing to contribute to the EuroGames in Lyon. There is a deep trend of improving diversity and inclusion in sport overall” says Augustin Pesche President of the OSL. And thanks to a partnership with the French Parasport Federation and France Paralympique we will ensure to offer maximum and optimal participation of people with disabilities in this event.

Gregory Doucet, Lyon city Mayor adding:” Our city of Lyon is extremely proud to host the EuroGames in 2025! The values of this Inclusion and Diversity have been at the core center of our principles.”

In addition to the sport competitions, these games will also display a strong cultural program, with the opportunity to leverage several renowned festivals in Lyon. And besides choir competitions, social and cultural happenings will be held in the city, as early as 2024, to promote the EuroGames and its values.

EGLSF congratulates Lyon 2025, CARGO & The French Federation of Sport LGBT+ on their successful bid for the 2025 edition of EuroGames. “Reflecting on this year’s bids, Erika Patrikainen, EGLSF General Secretary says, “Congratulations to both bidders. We have never had such a close result, and both bids were extremely strong and well supported. We have a fantastic momentum with our future EuroGames lineup until 2025. But in the immediate future we look forward to welcoming everyone to EuroGames 2022 in Nijmegen this July.”

In 2021 the EuroGames took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2022 it will be in Nijmegen, Netherlands. In 2023 it will be in Bern, Switzerland and in 2024 in Vienne Austria.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Lyon 2025 is an LGBT+ sports association created in 2021 by the LGBT+ Sports Federation and C.A.R.G.O (Cercle Associatif Rhônalpin Gay Omnisport) to support the French bid for the Eurogames 2025 and to organise these games.

The LGBT+ Sports Federation, for more than 30 years, has brought together the LGBT+ sports movement with nearly 50 sports associations throughout France, and about 6,000 sportspeople of all levels, both professionals and amateurs. Its main mission is to fight against discrimination through and for sport. This is done through campaigns, friendly and militant sports events such as the Paris International Tournament, the Forum des Associations and the Diversity Trophies. www.fsgl.org

C.A.R.G.O (Cercle Associatif Rhônalpin Gay Omnisport), created in 1998 and located in Lyon, is the largest sports association in France with nearly 600 members for the 2021/2022 season. CARGO includes 9 sports (Badminton, Crossfit, Football, Handball, Swimming, Running, Self Defence, Squash and Volleyball) and 1 activity, the Choir. Its purpose is to offer the practice of sports and cultural activities, in leisure or competition, as well as the organisation of national and international tournaments, in a spirit of inclusion and non-discrimination, particularly for LGBTQ+ people. The association is affiliated to the French Handisport Federation and is a signatory of the Sport and Trans charter. www.c-a-r-g-o.org

EGLSF Founded in 1989, The European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) aims include combatting against discrimination in sport on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics and to stimulate integration in sport and emancipation of LGBTIQ+ athletes. The federation has a membership of over 120 European LGBTIQ+ sports clubs and organisations representing the interests of more than 22,000 people.

Contacts:

Cédric Lemarié president@c-a-r-g-o.org

Helene Germain Vice_presidence@sports-lgbt.fr