Newsletter February 2011

• Ready, Set, Go!
• Registration easier and quicker!
• Travel desk
• To a record number of female contestants
• STUDIO 11: the sequel
• Do you know...Adka van Osnabrugge?

Ready, Set, Go!

Picture this: Sunday afternoon, January 16, club Gay Palace in Rotterdam packed with people attending the New Years drink. Among the sound of funky ‘drumbeat’ music all guests raised their glasses to a spectacular New Year’s toast and, of course, to a splendid EuroGames 2011 tournament. Let the new year begin! Ready, set, go!

LGBT-acceptance
Athletes, guests, members of several Rotterdam LGBT-organisations and of course volunteers were present in large numbers at the EuroGames New Years drink. Along with other Rotterdam LGBT-organisations such as ‘Ketelbinkie’, ‘COC Rotterdam’, ‘Rotterdam Verkeert’, ‘Apollo’ and ‘PRhomo’, the EuroGames members had organised a stunning program which even impressed the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb. After some short introductions, Rotterdam alderman Korrie Louwes took the stage. In her opening speech Mrs. Louwes called for more acceptance of LGBT’s in sports. Unfortunately, this still is a major issue today. One in four gay athletes say to encounter discrimination during sports. The EuroGames will bring a change to this in The Netherlands, starting this summer in Rotterdam!

Registration easier and quicker!

Recently, registration for the EuroGames 2011 has been made easier and quicker. It is now also possible to pay your registration fee by credit card. Quick, easy and safe.

Special early bird fees
It has taken us some time to announce this, but we suggest you don’t wait too long to register! Early birds can get a discount on registration costs. The faster you register, the more you save. Additionally, being an EGLSF-member also entitles you to discount on your registration costs which will be a maximum of €160. Read more on participation and terms and conditions on the EuroGames website and don’t forget to register while doing so.

Traveldesk

Europe’s largest harbour city, city of architecture, dynamic city, multicultural city: it’s all Rotterdam. This summer it is also the city of sports when Rotterdam will host the EuroGames 2011. Having trouble finding your way around and don’t want to miss out on all the great events? The travel desk will help you with information.

Package deals
Besides providing local information, the travel desk can also assist you with the booking of your flights and hotels. This may even can get you discounts as deals have been made with local hotels. Special ‘package deals’ can also be booked from different European cities such as Barcelona, London and Berlin. These ‘package deals’ include a return-flight, four nights at a hotel, transfer from and to the airport and a chip card which can be used for the Rotterdam public transportation system. Check the website for additional information.

Lucky winner
A special lottery was held at the EuroGames New Years drink at Gay Palace. The big price was a weekend trip to London which was made possible by the EuroGames travel desk and Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Everyone could participate by filling in the intended form. The lucky winner was Jennifer Maasdamme. We hope she will have a great time during this weekend trip!

Questions
You can contact the travel desk by e-mail for any additional questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also, keep checking our website regularly for more information on the several Rotterdam hotspots. Every month we highlight a must-see hotel, restaurant, museum or party which is not to be missed during your stay in Rotterdam!

To a record number of female contestants

The EuroGames will truly be a success when there will be at least an equal amount of female and male participants. Women should not be a minority at the EuroGames. To break with the tradition of far more male contestants than female contestants, this year the organisation will put extra effort in promoting the EuroGames among women. Part of this extra effort will most likely include a women-only party on the fabulous SS Rotterdam, the famous ocean steamer of the historic ‘Holland-America Line’.

Primeur
If we succeed in attracting an equal amount of female and male participants during this summer’s EuroGames, it would be the first time. Ever since 1982, the year that the first Gay Games were held in San Francisco, the majority of participants were male. Until now, on average, three out of ten participants were female, but gradually more women are participating. This trend was also seen at the previous edition of the Gay Games in which four out of ten participants were female. The EuroGames 2011 organisation aims to elongate this and has a goal of at least fifty percent female participants. Naturally, male participants will not be affected in a negative way by this goal.

Miss Gay
To have this aim is one thing, to actually achieve it is something else. Studies have shown that in comparison to lesbians, gay guys tend to gather more, are less tied and better appreciate a sports tournament in which they can safely participate. Lesbian women are shown to participate more in regular sports tournaments rather than specific LGBT-sports tournaments. Also, they are more often bound at home, for example by children. The organisation thinks that more and better recruitment of women, especially at ‘women-only’ meetings will help to achieve this goal. Besides active recruitment, we also think that activities such as a Miss Gay-pageant and a fabulous women-only party will help to attract more women. Lesbian or not, you can either way register for this fantastic tournament and help achieve our goal of five female participants out of ten. Will you help us to persuade women to register so that we can set a new record during this fantastic tournament?

STUDIO 11: the sequel

Missed out on the first edition of the new cosmopolitan party STUDIO 11? No worries, Saturday 12 March there will be another chance to attend this fabulous party. At the stunning location ‘Schiecentrale’ you can enjoy drama and sensitivity and dance the night away at the funky beats of DJ Marcello, Hélène di Firenzi and DJ Lacroix. Ticket sales have started 28 January, ticket price is €35. Don’t miss out on this fabulous party! For more information and ticket sales please visit the STUDIO 11 website

Do you know...Adka van Osnabrugge?

Adka van Osnabbrugge is the director of the EuroGames 2011 in Rotterdam. That sounds impressive and it actually is. But who is Adka and what does she do exactly?

Adka van Osnabrugge, what are you going to do for the Rotterdam EuroGames?
''As director it is my duty to make sure that all sports events and cultural events will go as planned and that everything runs smoothly. For example the expected 6000 participants with a nice balance between the number of female and male participants. But also the look and feel of the EuroGames, which should be positive of course. I will give my best until the end of the tournament to achieve this together with all hard working volunteers. At that time I think we all will be tired out and, hopefully, satisfied.''

You are not part of the LGBT-community and yet you apply yourself. What is there to gain for you?
"Me being director of the EuroGames brings me the opportunity to show that I am against any form of discrimination. For once, I am the minority who has to adjust to the majority. I started noticing this feeling during the Canal Parade in Amsterdam last summer. I particularly felt outside of my comfort zone back then. It feels different to be part of a minority. Never before in my life I have experienced a sense of one big family among complete strangers. After the opening ceremony of the Gay Games in Cologne trams packed with people were waiting to leave. In my tram someone started singing in German after which a Dutch guy took over, and after that a French song started. Everyone was singing and clapping. It was a nice moment to share, a moment I won’t easily forget."

What are your greatest sport achievements?
"I was a national Dutch youth champion in fencing, forty years ago. Back then I was 14 years old. I currently enjoy playing tennis and golf."

Who would you like to show the EuroGames world this summer?
"Mister Geert Wilders, member of the Dutch parliament. He has created an image supporting the ‘standard behaving’ white Dutchman. He also represents everything about non-tolerance whereas the EuroGames particularly stands for tolerance. It would be nice to see mister Wilders looking at different people with more sense when he sees how we all shape the differences that make the EuroGames such a fantastic tournament. Being together, sporting together and celebrating together sends out a powerful message."

What would you do with 450,000 referee whistles?
"I would hand out whistles with a coloured cord to all 6000 participants as a reference to the 2011 COLOUR festival. The remaining whistles I would hand out to the people of Rotterdam so that they can use it when they see injustice."

Which part of the EuroGames are you looking forward to?
"I am very much looking forward to the whole EuroGames experience, how people experience this great atmosphere. The dialogue it will generate and celebrating that everyone, also in sports, is allowed to be who they are. It would be fan-tas-tic if……we achieve a little “understanding” through the EuroGames in Rotterdam."