Emy Ritt reports on FVV 25th Anniversary celebration

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Federation of Gay Games member organization FVV, approximately 100 people were invited to a special event, which was followed by a dance party open to the public.

FVV is a Frankfurt multisport group with strong roots in Volleyball, as demonstrated by its full name: Frankfurter Volleyball Verein. Now 25 years after being founded as a Volleyball club, it has become a true multisport giant, offering the following sports:

Badminton - Basketball - Bowling - DanceSport - PositHIV Sport - Cycling - Football - Handball - Fitness (including "Grey" Fitness, Gymnastics, Strength & Stamina, "Back" to Work, Intensive Stretching, Thai Yoga and Yoga) - Rowing - Swimming - Synchronized Swimming - Platform Diving - Sailing - Tennis - Table Tennis - Trampoline - Triathlon - Volleyball - Nordic Walking

Many politicians from Frankfurt attended, including a representative from the German Parliament and the President of the Frankfurt mainstream umbrella sports organisation.

Pepe Garcia Vasquez, Co-President, represented EGLSF, while Annette Wachter and Michael Lohaus also attended, representing SC Janus and Games Cologne.

Artemis, the women’s sport club based in Frankfurt and a partner organisation of FVV, was also present. As part of their speech, they presented FVV with a set of bow and arrows (Artemis, aka Diana, is the goddess of hunting). Artemis celebrated their 25th Anniversary last year.

I represented FGG and was asked to give a short speech (see HERE). The speech was given in my broken German, which seems to be very much appreciated by the participants. The organizers had arranged for a special piece of music to be played during the “entrance” of each speaker, and for the FGG the music was Facing a Miracle. Needless to say, there was much emotion in the room at this moment.

After my speech, I presented a “collector’s item” FGG 25th Anniversary Pin to each member of the FVV Board.

Between the speeches, there were short videos and drag-queen acts. After all the speeches and entertainment, the FVV Gay Games VIII medal winners walked out wearing their medals and carrying their “Team Frankfurt” banner, again to “Facing a Miracle”, and again some more tears. I found this a particularly nice gesture, given the presence of Annette Wachter and and Michael Lohaus and their partners.

After all the speeches, a huge birthday cake with sparklers was rolled out for all to enjoy.

I was truly honored to be invited to represent the FGG at this event, and thank Jan Froelich for hosting me and Pepe Garcia Vasquez. And I again want to express my hope that 25 years from now we will again be celebrating a silver anniversary in Frankfurt, that of the 25 years of membership of FVV in the FGG.