8 Popular LGBTQ+ Sports Events Around the World
Contrary to popular belief, sports aren’t just for cishet males — Queer people enjoy sports as well! This fact is made evident by the amount of LGBTQ+ Sporting Events held each year around the world.
If you are into sports, here is a list of some of the most popular LGBTQ+ sporting events around the world that you should be planning to attend!
EuroGames
EuroGames are Europe’s premier multi-sports event that celebrates diversity in sexual orientation, sex characteristics, and gender identity. The main goal is to provide a safe space for everyone to come together and play sports, which is why it is not mandatory to be a member of the LGBTQ community to participate. While EuroGames are primarily geared towards LGBTIQ athletes (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer), they are open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and skill level. Diversity is key!
Visit the EuroGames’ website for more information about this year’s event, the dates, and how you can get involved.
The Gay Games
The Gay Games are considered to be the most important sports and cultural competition of diversity organized by the LGBT+ community. Just the Olympics, the Gay Games are held every four years. Serving as a benefit event, the Gay Games has a participation rate of over 10,000 athletes. In addition to integrating sports disciplines and providing a space for athletes of all genders and sexual orientations to work together, the Gay Games also integrate a cultural and conference agenda. All participants must be over 18 years of age to participate, but all participants do not have to belong to the LGBT+ community.
Visit the Gay Games website for more information and how you can get involved.
Sin City Classic
For over 16 years, the Sin City Classic is a multi-day LGBTQ+ sports festival hosted annually by The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) in Las Vegas. It is also the largest LGBT+ sporting event in the world, featuring 24 different sports, 8,000 athletes, 30 events, and 500 teams. Athletes from all over the world come to Las Vegas for 4 days and nights of competitive sports, parties, and events. It’s one of the only events where athletes can work hard during the day, and party just as hard at night!
Head to the Sin City Classic website for information about the event, dates, and schedule.
Gay Polo League and the International Gay Polo Tournament
The International Gay Polo Tournament draws top Gay Polo League players and avid spectators from around the globe for a weekend of grand horseplay in Wellington, Florida. The event is seen as half competition, and half lighthearted party, which helps make the event more about sharing the love of sport and adventure and making friends with people who have similar interests. The event is also about creating awareness and moving the needle forward for LGBTQ athletes, ensuring that queer athletes not only have the same opportunities but also a safe place to learn, grow and excel in their sport.
Visit www.gaypolo.com to learn more about the Gay Polo League, and check out The Palm Beaches’ website for more info about the International Gay Polo Tournament.
The Gay Kickball World Series
Pride Sports USA’s Gay Kickball World Series, founded in 2019 is an LGBTQ+ & Ally community-based, non-profit 501(c)3 sports organization that takes pride in providing a fun, safe and welcoming environment to all athletes. The league values each player for who they are and what they bring to the community. The biggest mission of the Gay Kickball World Series is to provide an inclusive, low-cost, fun sports organization that is managed as a non-profit.
Please visit pridesportsusa.com/gkws for more information.
Gay Softball World Series
Every year, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association (NAGAAA) partners with a new City that’s chosen to host the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS). The GSWS is the largest annual, LGBTQ week-long athletic competition dedicated to a single sport in the world. Softball teams from the 54 Member Cities across North America compete to qualify and represent their city in one of seven divisions.
To learn more about this year’s Gay Softball World Series, visit www.lightupthenorth.org. To learn more about the NAGAAA, visit www.nagaaasoftball.org.
German Rainbow Open
The German Rainbow Golfers are a community of LGBTQ+ people in Germany who love to play golf! Every year, they organize large and small tournaments in many regions of Germany, including the German Rainbow Open. Interested folks are cordially welcome to participate in the events, even without becoming a member of the association right way.
To learn more about the German Rainbow Golfers and this year’s German Rainbow Open, visit www.german-rainbow-golfers.com/en/golf/german-rainbow-open.
The Bingham Cup
The Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament (more widely known as the Bingham Cup) is the biennial world championship of gay and inclusive rugby, considered to be “The world cup of gay and inclusive rugby.” The Bigham Cup is named in honor of gay rugby player Mark Bingham, who was one of the brave, heroic passengers that fought back against terrorist attackers onboard United Flight 93 during the 9/11 tragedy.
The tournament was first held in 2002 and hosted by Mark’s rugby club, the San Francisco Fog. Originally only attended by 8 teams, the event has grown to be the world’s largest amateur rugby tournament. 2024’s Bingham Cup is slated to occur in Rome, Italy.
To learn more about International Gay Rugby and The Bingham Cup, visit igrugby.org/bingham-cup.
