Host of EuroGames 2021, Pan Idræt Copenhagen, says sports events are going ahead despite cancellation of the WorldPride Parade
Pan Idræt, the host of the sports events known collectively as EuroGames 2021, which are part of Copenhagen 2021 together with WorldPride, is still going full speed ahead with the 29 different sports tournaments to be held from 18 to 20 August this summer.
“Of course, we’re sad that the actual pride parade has had to be cancelled due to government restrictions,†said Christian Bigom, chair of Pan Idræt, the LGBT+ sports club which won the bid to host EuroGames 2021 licenced by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation.
“The parade is the most visible part of the whole event, but still only one part of the massive Copenhagen 2021 mega-event being held in Malmö, Sweden and the Danish capital Copenhagen.â€
The Danish government has chosen to restrict mass gatherings to an extent that makes it impossible to host a pride parade of the scale normally held each year in Copenhagen, which of course would have been even bigger this year with WorldPride being held in the city.
However, this restriction will not affect the sports tournaments, where the most popular sports are expected to have several hundred participants each. The EuroGames Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also still take place and Copenhagen’s restaurants and night life are opening up more and more every week as more people are being vaccinated.
“We’re working closely with the relevant sport governing bodies, municipal authorities and others who own the various venues such as sports halls and swimming pools,†added Christian Bigom.
“We’ll be following all restrictions and advice so that we can all have safe tournaments and make sure our visitors have a great time here tooâ€, he concluded.
Katja Moesgaard, the chairperson of Copenhagen 2021, the organization set up by Pan Idræt and Copenhagen Pride to jointly run all the events, is very happy that the sports part of the mega-event will not be affected. “Registration is open until 12 July, and some sports are nearly full, so we might need to close registration early in those cases. Book early – we have a very generous cancellation policy. In the worst-case scenario where we have to cancel because of COVID-19, all registration fees will be refunded 100%â€, she said.
Press release courtesy of Pan Idræt, banner courtesy of Copenhagen 2021, photo courtesy of Kelly Hansen
Aquatic and party aquatic sports at EuroGames 2021:
Leave a Reply