Featured events


7-9 September 2012
Brussels Games
Brussels

Brussels Gay Sports will offer a weekend of fun and fairplay in the capital of Europe, with volleyball, swimming, badminton, and tennis, as well as fitness and hiking.

Learn more HERE.
26-28 October 2012
QueergamesBern
Bern, Switzerland

The success of the first edition of the QueergamesBern proved the need for an LGBT multisport event in Switzerland. This year will be even bigger, with badminton, bowling, running, walking, floorball.

Learn more HERE.
17-20 January 2013
Sin City Shootout
Las Vegas
The 7th Sin City Shootout will feature softball, ice hockey, tennis, wrestling, basketball, dodgeball, bodybuilding and basketball.

Learn more HERE.

13-16 June 2013
IGLFA Euro Cup
Dublin
After this year's edition in Budapest at the EuroGames, the IGLFA Euro Cup heads to Dublin for 2013, hosted by the Dublin Devils and the Dublin Phoenix Tigers.

Learn more HERE.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Football Against Racism in Europe opposes FIFA ban on Islamic dress

FARE has published a statement on the ban on religious clothing by FIFA. Here is an extract:

The Executive Director of FARE, Piara Powar, today said, “The ban on the wearing of religious headwear in football is misguided and wrong. It contravenes the right to religious freedom on the pretext of safety.

“The ban impacts heavily on one religious and gender group in particular - Muslim women – whose choice to wear a hijab during games should be respected as a legitimate expression of their religious identity.”

We cannot agree with FARE on this matter. Sport is not about the expression of ones religious beliefs: it's about sport, and the rules are the same for all. When an athlete walks on the field of play, she follows the rules of the game, not the Koran or the New Testament or the Torah. An athlete is an athlete, not a Muslim athlete or a gay athlete or a Tory athlete.

Moreover, in countries like Iran where women are repressed as women, where the religious law consistently oppresses women, it is laughable to imagine that a member of the national team is able to freely choose religious garb: to refuse means not being selected at best.
The rules of sport, whether Olympic Sport or those of FIFA itself, attempt to protect sport from the influence of religion.

Olympic Charter

Principle 5 of the Olympic Charter: Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

Mission and role of National Olympic Committees: The NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with the Olympic Charter.

Rule 51: No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

FIFA's own rules state: Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements.

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