Split conference report

Post Conference Press Release by qSPORT:

On Friday, 2nd of March 2012, Split/CROATIA hosted an extraordinary conference under the title Conte[s|x]ting SPORT , which engaged almost a hundred international, regional and local participants. The speakers included government representatives, policy makers, advocates, expert consultants, academic researchers, elite athletes, media and sport professionals, and most importantly, sport organizers and enthusiasts. The conference was opened with addresses by Ms Maria Ochoa-Llidó, representing the Council of Europe, and Mr Krešimir Šamija, a representative of the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports.

"Croatia, Dalmatia as its Mediterranean region and especially the city of Split have an amazing track record in competitive sports (highest number of Olympians per capita), but are lagging behind when it comes to human rights, participation and visibility of minorities in sport, or in sustainable models of sport organizing " - notes Željko Blaće, researcher and activist of qSPORT and one of the conference organisers.

In a full day program, sport was examined through the lens of Inclusion, Diversity and Sustainability, in contrast to the dominant topics of sport management, efficiency and feasibility - areas that generate results in competition. The format of the day included workshops, panels and keynotes, several working meetings and, of course, provided an opportunity for informal networking among the participants (for some South Eastern Europeans it was the first time to take part in such event).

The conference covered all levels of sport from grass-roots to competitive sport, through presentations of good practices (diversity policies of Rugby Football League, the Marlin Swimming Club for trans individuals and anti-homophobia work of the Norwegian Olympic Committee) and experiences from sport networks (like Football Against Racism in Europe, the Balkan Alpe Adria project and the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation), campaigns (like The Justin Campaign), case studies (legal cases against homophobic statements uttered by Croatian sport officials) and programs (like Media Against Racism in Sports).

The morning panel on regional dynamics focused on the process of (economic and political) Transition (in post-1990s war South East Europe), while the evening panel centered around Inclusion-Participation within the pyramid of sport. Both were exceptionally well received and provided material for a rewarding debate. The highlights of the program were opening and closing keynotes, by Ivan Ergić, and John Amaechi, respectively. Ivan is an elite international football player and writer, who provided a critical analysis of hyper-commercialized sport (where athletes' bodies are relegated to means of meeting financial goals), and John is a management consultant, former NBA player and psychologist, who talked about racial, sexual and class discrimination, as well as psychological and emotional aspects of sports for both youth and professionals.

The conference concluded with the message that much remains to be done within existing sport structures to render them truly Inclusive, Diverse and Sustainable. Sport should be reflected on and regularly contested through critical analysis; not just accepted as a route to competition. It is naive to imagine that sport is autonomous and independent as its context and conditions are determined by sponsored financial and media support, and as diverse trans-local struggles against economic disadvantages and legal constraints arising from race/ethnic, gender or sexual orientation identities have meant reduced access and visibility for some.

The conference participants provided feedback and pointed out that in order to achieve systemic change there is a pressing need for action across different fields from early education of kids/youth to training professionals in sport and media, but they also called for educating and sanctioning those who participate in violence and hooliganism in sport. Such work needs greater understanding, solidarity and support among all stakeholders, which can be achieved through empathy and a deeper understanding of the "Other" and each-other. Conferences like this provide a temporary platform for meeting and exchange, but are in need of practical follow-up.
The organizers will produce documentation and supporting material in the form of a reader and an electronic publication, hoping that the content and contacts provided will foster sustainable collaboration in the future.

"It was inspiring to see such diversity of activists, policy makers and sports organizers from Europe's communities discussing cutting edge work in challenging LGBTQ-phobias and creating solutions for LGBTQ inclusion" - explains Louise Englefield, conference co-organizer and former co-president of EGLSF.

Local and regional media representatives (Slobodna Dalmacija , H-Alter and OneWorldSEE ) following the Conference reported on the themes and participants, especially pointing out the fact that the event took place in Split/CROATIA under rigorous police protection.

About conference organizers:
EPAS as a sport body for the Council of Europe has dedicated its work in 2012 to Homophobia in Sport and has partnered with EGLSF to co-organize 3 conferences during this year, starting with the one in Split, followed by Budapest in June and later on in Rotterdam. qSPORT as an EGLSF member has done pioneering work in instigating and networking LGBTQ sport initiatives in the region of South East Europe, while reaching out to a larger network of social/political/sport activists and organizations in order to establish a backbone for positive change in and through sport. Hosting of the Conference by QSS was exceptional in what was a very ambitious project for this recently established Split branch of qSPORT, which expanded its volunteer network beyond sport participants and its previous capacity. HBS (The Heinrich Böll Stiftung) supported the Conference through its Croatian and Polish offices in an effort to articulate and coordinate exchange of valuable know-how in the field of social activism between Poland and the region of South East Europe.

Further information on the event can be obtained from:
Zeljko Blace zeljko@qSPORT.info
Louise Englefield louise@eglsf.info

Photos from Amnesty International exhibition in conjunction with EGLSF AGA

The top photos from the exhibition held in conjunction with the EGLSF AGA in Split can be viewed online thanks to The Independent. View them HERE.

The photo above is by Luciana Magalhaes from Portugal:

"In this image that I called GO (60) we see an attitude of pure altruism, an act of solidarity. In the event, 'April 25 Race', an athlete that had special needs and showed some difficulties in going on is helped by the generous heart of another sportsman who is more used to these situations. He held out his hand to him, hence providing him with the satisfaction of crossing the finish line. This man shares generously a smile, brings the joy of a 'mission accomplished' to another in a world where, increasingly, selfishness, greed and avarice prevail. By reaching goals together, without discrimination, and calling for diversity, we will make Europe a place for all, so GO EUROPE!"

1 March 2012 / Video art installations in Split in conjunction with EGLSF Annual General Assembly

Tonci Kranjcevic Batalic writes on the work of video artists featured in conjunction with the EGLSF AGA opening in Split (details HERE):

The image of sport that we have today is a spectacular image with set meanings, defined mostly by media, especially televised pictures.

In the 60s Marshall McLuhan tried to define TV's image on the basis of its technical specifications, as well as physical and psychological perceptions of it, as a "cool" medium, or medium that requires an additional commitment for the interpretation of information, thus making the receiver of the image an active and critical observer.

The situation we have today with the presentation of sports as a spectacle in media is just the opposite: a uniform image of sports where viewer is treated as a passive observer, and his emotional reaction is simplified to basic euphoria or disappointment about the success or failure of a sport event. Such a communication process would classify TV media as a "hot" media, a term which for McLuhan describes "high definition" media. It is interesting that today, with the transition of TV images to HD, the viewer has made the path from active to passive recipient. However changes of the technical characteristics of media did not play the key role in that transition. The level of individual experience interacts with media and socio-cultural context play the key role in defining reception.

Apart from being presented in a form of video, the works of artists in this exhibition have in common a demand for an active and critical interpretation of offered information. Another common point in presented works is artist's performative act, in which the artist, accepting or violating the rules of sport, creates new and unfamiliar situations that reflect both personal and social reality.

Freedom of decision and imposed social values are related to the construction of gender identity in the works of Renata Poljak and Vedran Perkov. From the perspective of sport, the works of Boris Šitum and Sandra Sterle manifest absurd situations. Sterle's act is opposing professionalization of sports and thus indicates aesthetic and ideological elements of sport as a game. The absurdity of Šitum's serves from the roof of the bankrupted Uzor factory refers to the current socio-political situation. Experimenting with recording and animation, Ana Hušman reconstructs the historic match between Argentina and England in 1986, thus indicating the social and political relations that can be found in football.

A wide range of topics found in these sport-related performative acts indicate multiple possibilities of sports in the construction of individual and social realities and identities, which are usually ignored in spectacularized and professionalized sports of today. This exhibition is a reaction to passive acceptance of simplified sport images promoted by the media and society. It is an incentive for understanding sport as a space of realization of different kinds of social and human conditions.

1 March 2012 / Na hrvatskom / Više od sporta

Tonci Kranjcevic Batalic writes in pogledaj.to ("look") on the work of video artists featured in conjunction with the EGLSF AGA opening in Split. 


Što se sve može izraziti koristeći jezik sporta, tema je projekcija koje se ovog vikenda održavaju u Splitu. Kao popratni program konferencije Conte[s|x]ting SPORT, danas u 18h u auditoriumu hostela Goli±Bosi održava se program Više od sporta.

Radovi pet hrvatskih umjetnika, osim video forme u kojoj su prezentirani, veže i izvedbeni akt u kojem usvajaju jezik sporta. Prihvaćajući pravila sporta ili kršeći ih, u video radovima stvaraju nove i nepoznate situacije koje obilježavaju kako osobnu, tako i društvenu realnost.

Pitanja slobode odluke i društveno nametnutih vrijednosti isprepleću se s konstrukcijom rodnog identiteta u radovima Renate Poljak i Vedrana Perkova. Iz perspektive sporta, radovi Sandre Sterle i Borisa Šituma donose apsurdne situacije. Kod Sterle apsurd je oprečan profesionalizaciji sporta te tako ukazuje na estetski i ideološki element koji sport nosi u sebi kao igra, a kod Šituma apsurdno ponavljanje serviranja lopti s krova propale tvornice Uzor problematizira aktualnu društveno-političku situaciju.

Keep reading HERE.

3 March 20121 / "Yes to Diversity" exhibition to open in Split in conjunction with EGLSF AGA

From the  Pink Paper:

This Saturday, a prestigious education centre in Croatia will open its doors for a unique photography exhibition celebrating diversity across Europe.

The exhibition - entitled Yes to Diversity, no to discrimination – is the conclusion of a Europe-wide Amnesty International competition and is being opened by renowned Amnesty supporter, BBC commentator and former NBA basketball star John Amaechi.

Amaechi was also the first professional player in the NBA to come out as gay.

The competition was open to amateur photographers across Europe and attracted over 500 entries. They were challenged to submit powerful images promoting the value of a society without discrimination.

An international jury of professional photographers and human rights activists met in Brussels to choose the top 12, and it is those 12 that will be on display at Pučko Otvoreno Učilište (the Centre for Cultural and Educational Activities) in Split from Saturday.

Keep reading HERE.

3 March 2012 / EGLSF Annual General Assembly in Split

We wish the best of luck to our friends from the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) for their upcoming Annual General Assembly in Split, Croatia.

Hosted by qSport in a beautiful, historic city, the AGA should be an exceptional event.

More information on the AGA HERE.
More information on EGLSF HERE.

2 March 2012 / Conference to open EGLSF AGA in Split

We wish the best of luck to this conference organized by FGG member organization qSport in conjunction with the EGLSF Annual General Assembly in Split, Croatia

Conte[s|x]ting Sport
Split, 2012

Conference for a more inclusive, diverse and sustainable sport
Friday 2nd of March 2012
City library Marko Marulić
Slobode 2
Split, Croatia

Organized by: EGLSF, EPAS and qSPORT - Zagreb with support of HBS Croatia.

The keynote speakers include Gay Games Ambassador John Amaechi.

All info HERE.
Note that some sessions may be webcast. Visit the website regularly for info on possible sessions.

qSport report on Gay Games VIII

From the website of FGG member organization qSport Zagreb:

Although this is not the first time Croatians participated in GayGames events (there were individuals in previous 3 instances and also Bura soccer team in Chicago), it was by far the biggest representation so far. It included members of lesbian/feminist chorus group LeZbor (who made a lot of people impressed at their performances - me included, as new their humble start from few years ago), few key qSPORT members (unfortunately some were canceling participation few months in advance), few Croatians from diaspora living in Germany and an undisclosed group of volleyball players (spin off from qSPORT). Thanks to LeZbor's kraft skills they all got a hand made red-white checker colors on CRAVAT, which is a symbol originating from Napoleon's soldiers from Croatian...

All-in-all Croatian group was the biggest of South Eastern European country, with about 25 representatives - it was also bigger then number of Polish, Hungarian, Slovenian or Bulgarian representation. This was mainly due to outreach stipends that were awarded based on applications submitted year ago to organizers, rather then pro-active outreach in the region (that Cologne organizers originally committed to in their bid for GayGames). For this reason there was no opportunity for networking with new people and first time or fresh LGBTQ sport participants but rather chit chat with usual suspects - hugely disappointing, especially considering that from around 10.000 registered participants majority were coming from just handful of countries (Germany and USA by far the biggest, followed by French, Dutch and British).

In terms of success of performances and representation, qSPORT's member won a silver medal in swimming competition, while other achieved personal bests in very competitive disciplines. Vice-president and secretary of qSPORT also attended official and informal meetings and continued to network with officials of FGG and other present organizations. Opening COLOR party and Rotterdam stage included performances of KARIS WILDE as a guest performer as a result of qSPORT networking.

Read in full, with photos HERE.