| 1992 |
The EuroGames took place for the first time in The Hague. About 300 athletes from five
European countries competed in four sports: badminton, football, volleyball and basketball.
The EuroGames started on a small scale to give lesbians and gays the opportunity to meet
and have fun outside the scrutiny of the greater public. The basic idea was to support gay
and lesbian athletes in their coming out, increase the awareness of gay and lesbian sport
in the greater public and to do networking between gay and lesbian sports clubs in Europe. |
It all began in 1992. |
| 1993 |
The gay and lesbian sports world met again in the administrative capital of the Netherlands.
The sports were complemented by swimming and track and field. Over 540 participants, men
and women from 8 European countries honored the efforts of the organizers. The second Euro-
Games were officially opened by the Dutch Minister of Sport, Ms Hedy d’Ancona. As always
it was the goal of the EGLSF to use the EuroGames as a tool for political action. |
The Hague. Again. |
| 1994 |
The Gay Games in New York with 11,000 Athletes were a huge success. This event was to
have a tremendous influence on participation in the EuroGames, since many European participants
weremotivated by them to take part in the 1995 EuroGames. |
Gay Games. New York. |
| 1995 |
One year earlier, when the Frankfurter Volleyball
Verein FVV and Artemis Sport Frankfurt joined Forces to host the 1995 EuroGames,
the largest estimates on participation hardly exceeded 1,000 athletes for the 10 sports
on offer. When registration opened, a flood of applications overwhelmed the organizers
and in only a few weeks’ time additional sports locations
and housing had to be found. Many other logistical problems had to be mastered as well,
which the Frankfurter FVV and Artemis did with great success. In the end, over 2,000 participants enjoyed the 3rd Eurogames. Frankfurt/M. also provided the EuroGames logo “Star & Flame”.
|
FrankFurt, Germany.
A Year of Records. |
| 1996 |
The organizers were pleased to welcome 3,400 athletes competing in 17 sports between May
16th and 19th, 1996. The organisation reached a level of semi-professionalism, although the
work itself was done entirely by volunteers. For the first time over 50 athletes from East
European countries participated in the EuroGames: athletes from Lithuania, Poland, the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Russia and Romania took part. The Berlin EuroGames provided the EuroGames hymn (“We Are Leaving” by Polaris).
 |
Berlin, Germany.
Semi-Professional. |
| 1997 |
Due to the successful EuroGames history
up to then, three cities showed interest in hosting the 1997 EuroGames.
Brussels, Paris and Zurich competed to host the games. It was decided to give the EuroGames for
the first time to France. The EuroGames were held in Paris from
June 20th to 23rd, 1997: almost 2,000 athletes from 17 countries participated in 13 sports.
The majority of outreach participants at the EuroGames V in Paris came from
France, Italy and Spain.
|
Paris, France.
The First Real Bidding. |
| 1998 |
In August 1998 the Gay Games were held in Europe for the first time. Over 14,000 athletes
participated in the biggest LGBT sporting event ever. |
Gay Games. Amsterdam.
The Netherlands. |
| 1999 |
In July 1998 after months of serious talks with the organisers from Manchester the board
of the EGLSF had to make the difficult decision to withdraw the right to host the EuroGames from Manchester. |
Manchester.
Games Withdrawn. |
| 2000 |
The EuroGames were, however, bigger than expected. These well-organised EuroGames worked
like a Swiss watch. Over 4,300 athletes participated from June 1st to 4th, 2000 in the EuroGames
VI. 19 sports were offered to athletes from all across Europe. The outreach programme
was a great success and 150 athletes from Southern and Eastern Europe took part. Following
the example of the Gay Games Amsterdam 1998, a “Rainbow Square“ was set up
where athletes and their friends could meet for drinks, food and to listen to music.
|
ZÜrich, Switzerland.
The 'Little' Big City. |
| 2001 |
The EuroGames VII in August 2001
were the first ‘small’ EuroGames. Hanover
(Germany) organized a very fine event with seven sports. In addition, co-operation with the
local government worked out wonderfully under the auspices of Mayor Mr. H. Schmalstieg. The
dancing tournament was a great success, not only because of its political statement; the
competion was top level. The Hanover organisers created www.eurogames.info as a common domain
to be used by all future EuroGames for information and registration.
|
Hanover, Germany.
First SMall Games. |
| 2002 |
In November 2002 the Gay Games were held for the first time in the southern hemisphere.
Over 13,000 athletes participated in the Gay Games under the motto “Under New Skies“.
In many cases the competitions were held in the same venues where the Olympic Games had taken
place only two years before. |
Gay Games. Sydney.
Australia. |
| 2003 |
For the first time the EuroGames were held in
Northern Europe. EuroGames VIII offered volleyball, badminton, swimming, football, track
and field, dancing and a very popular sport in Scandinavia, handball. Due to the enormous
success of the previous EuroGames and the Gay Games in Sydney, where many Europeans were
not able to participate, registrations were high: over 2,200 participants; a large number
for “small“ EuroGames.
|
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Second Small Games. |
| 2004 |
From July 29th until the 1st of August 2004, over
5,000 participants and thousands of guests met to celebrate EuroGames
IX. For the first time
the major part of activities took place at the Olympic Park. Over 20 sports were offered.
Participants from all over the world came to Munich for the EuroGames.
|
Munich, Germany.
At 1972 Olympic Venue. |
| 2005 |
In June 2005 Utrecht was the first city to stage
a bigger ‘small’ EuroGames with 9 competition sports. Almost 3.000 athletes from 44 countries competed at the games.
For the first time field hockey was a competition sport at the EuroGames, where an Australian
team was also allowed to take part.
|
Utrecht,
The Netherlands. |
| 2006 |
A Big split caused realisation of two games: Gay Games in Chicago, USA (under FGG), and OutGames in Montreal, Canada (under GLISA).
|
Gay Games, Chicago.
Outgames, Montreal. |
| 2007 |
Antwerp, Belgium held the 11th EuroGames. Over 2,800 athletes from 40 countries participated in 12 sports. Over 40% of competitors were female, and approximately 600 volunteers took care that everything was carried out as planned.
 |
ANTWERP,
BELGIUM.
|
