Eurogames (LGBT sporting event)

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The EuroGames are a gay and lesbian sporting event in Europe, hosted by license of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation and organised by one or more of the federation's member clubs.

The EuroGames are officially called the European Gay and Lesbian Multi-Sports Championships.

Similar to the Gay Games, Eurogames are a sports-for-all-event, open to everyone, irrespective of sex, age, sexual identity or physical abilities.

EuroGames are a two day event. Big EuroGames are organised in the same years as Olympic Games, while since 2001 small EuroGames with a maximum of 1,500 participants and seven sports are held in all odd years. This format however is likely to change in the future.
The 'small' EuroGames Utrecht 2005 had almost 3,000 participants, nine competition sports and lasted three days, making them the biggest 'small' Games ever.

The EGLSF, with the organizing committee of the Montreal Gay Games (original holders of the Gay Games VII licence), has formed the GLISA to accredit the World Outgames, a global version of EuroGames, after the FGG deaccredited Montreal. The first World Outgames will be Montreal 2006.

The EuroGames are not held during Gay Games (even, non-Olympic)years and since the 2009 World Outgames are taking place in Europe (Copenhagen) in 2009 there will not be a EuroGames tournament held in that year either.

[edit] History of the EuroGames

Year	Location	Country	Participants	from countries	# of sports	Remarks	other bidders
1992	The Hague	Netherlands	300	5	4
1993	The Hague	Netherlands	540	8	6
1995	Frankfurt	Germany	2000	13
1996	Berlin	Germany	3247	18	17
1997	Paris	France	2000	18	17		Brussels, Zurich
1999	Manchester	United Kingdom	0	0	0	cancelled	Cologne
2000	Zurich	Switzerland	4500		19		Hamburg
2001	Hanover	Germany	1500		7	small Eurogames
2003	Copenhagen	Denmark	2200		7	small Eurogames
2004	Munich	Germany	5300	38	27		Vienna
2005	Utrecht	Netherlands	2855	44	9	small Eurogames
2007	Antwerp	Belgium				small Eurogames
2008	Barcelona	Spain