Swimmers revel in EuroGames inclusivity
Around 2000 athletes competed at Nijmegen 2022, which was the 19th edition of the EuroGames, which debuted in the Netherlands in 1992.
By Nick Hope
LEN Digital Editor
“Fun” and “friendly” but also “inclusive” and “inspirational” just a few of the words used to describe four days of competition at the 2022 Nijmegen EuroGames in the Netherlands.
The annual multi-sport event, which is governed by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (GBLSF), is open to all participants regardless of gender identity, age, race or sexual orientation.
Each edition has four key targets:
- fight against discrimination in sport on grounds of sexual preference or orientation
- stimulate integration in sport and emancipation of LGBTIQ athletes
- enable and support the coming out of LGBTIQ athletes
- support the founding of new LGBTIQ groups
Swimming and water polo formed two of the 17-strong sport line-up for the 2022 edition, which was backed by Dutch two-time Olympic relay medallists Johan Kenkhuis.
“I was very uncomfortable in the beginning with my coming out, to feel freedom and that I could show who I was,” he said. “Coming out should actually be a celebration. It is very good for the visibility and the feeling of togetherness that events like EuroGames are organised.¨
Also in attendance was President of the Royal Dutch Swimming Association Hayke Veldman.
“I’m really proud that swimming is one of the sports at Euro Games and especially here where I lived for 30 years,” he told LEN.
“People need to feel free to be themselves and when I look around the pool I see everyone is happy, which is great to see and I’m proud that swimming is ahead of other sports in being inclusive.”
LEN spoke with some of the competitors during the two days of the swimming programme.
SIMONA STAUDINGER – SWITZERLAND
Q – How have you enjoyed your time at Nijmegan 2022?
“Oh a lot, it’s really good competition and I love it!
“I quit competitive swimming about three years ago when I was in the top five-ten in Switzerland, now I train one time a week because of university, but I try to go as much as I can. It’s fun here, it’s not too intense because people are happy, smiling and friendly.
Q – We have seen a good number of women competing here, but how important is it that the numbers increase in future years?
“Well first of all next year it’s Bern, in Switzerland, which is a lovely town and I’m already recruiting!
“The other thing is that for women it’s still like they’re living their sexuality or homosexuality still in secret. I feel that especially now for women, no matter what your sexuality, gender or level in swimming you are, please come and have fun with us because obviously the parties afterwards are as fun as the competition here!”
AD VAN HEJST (left) and WIM SANDERS (right) – THE NETHERLANDS
Q – How have you enjoyed being here in Nijmegen for the EuroGames?
Ad: “It’s been the swimming mostly, but also yesterday evening in the city there was a good atmosphere and you can really see the people enjoy themselves, which then helps them do personal bests in sport, which I think is the best way to approach it.
Wim: “What impressed me is the atmosphere in the town because it’s very open to diverse persons, so you feel really free.”
Q – What more can be done to improve diversity and inclusion at future editions?
Wim: “I think we have to open up to the non-binary and trans persons, we have to do something to make them feel like they are welcome and we don’t do that automatically because we don’t always know what’s needed.
“The gay people that’s okay but the rest, there’s still some work to be done.”
Ad: “Yes, I feel it as well, there’s still a lot to do. I’m a confidential advisor of the swim club I’m participating in and there’s still work to be done. It’s a good start but they don’t realise that a lot of people are still a bit hidden and don’t go to swim clubs.”
NANDA VAN HETEREN – THE NETHERLANDS
Q – How much have you enjoyed your time and results at Nijmegen 2022?
“I love it and it’s so special to be here.
“I’m from the Netherlands and the people are happy, everyone swims fantastic and it’s so joyful to be here.”
Q – How vital is it to bring events like this to the Netherlands?
“I think it’s very important for us because everyone is good enough the way he, she or they are, but we have to push it (visibility) out a little bit more.
“I think it’s very important to do that, so we are here for this reason.”
MATT WAN – GREAT BRITAIN:
Q – How much did you enjoy it?
“A bit too much and it was painful, haha. Tennis and swimming is not a good combination, I’m so tired, but I really enjoyed it.”
Q – Have you always been very sporty?
“I swam as a kid then stopped swimming when I started working, but I moved to London (after Amsterdam and Australia), I decided to start swimming again and decided to join ‘Out to Swim’.
“It’s been very fun, very social, they’re super, lovely people and there’s never a dull moment, but it’s also great to come back to swimming, compete and yes it’s my passion so I’ve loved it!”
EMMA VAN DER MEER AND ANTWAN VAN ENGEN – THE NETHERLANDS:
Q – Have you competed in events like this before and how much do you enjoy it?
Emma: “I like it a lot, there’s great competition and people are very friendly and it’s very nice to be around a lot of people again. I’ve also improved most of my times, which is great!”
Antwan: “It’s my second time in this kind of championships. Last year I went to the Dutch Championships in the same event, but also I did masters more often so that’s on a regularly basis so really enjoy it.
“It’s mostly swimming in preparation for the (LEN) European Masters Championships in August in Rome, so this keeps me really focusing on swimming.”
Q – How vital is it that we have more female competitors at next year’s event?
Emma: “I think it’s really important because I expected much more women and we need each other and we have to get each other’s backs!”
The 2023 EuroGames will take place in Bern, Switzerland, from 26-29 July.
The event will head to Vienna, Austria, in 2024 before Lyon, France, hosts the 2025 edition.