Articles
Largest Dutch delegation joins Gay Games in València
Every four years, the Gay Games bring together thousands of athletes, artists and advocates from around the world to celebrate sport, culture and inclusion. More than a sporting event, the Games are an opportunity to build connections, celebrate diversity and promote equality through participation. This year, the Games take place in València, where the Netherlands will be represented by its largest delegation to date.
A platform to raise awareness
The Gay Games are far from new. First organised in 1982 in San Francisco, they were the brainchild of accomplished former Olympic athlete Dr Tom Waddell. With this historic event, he sought to create an inclusive space where LGBTQIA+ athletes could participate without prejudice, fostering a sense of community and breaking down social barriers.
The Netherlands has long been part of these visionary ideals, and even hosted the event in Amsterdam in 1998. Many years on and tens of thousands of participants later, the event touches down in València on 27 June 2026. This year, around 400 participants from the Netherlands will travel to Spain as part of Team Netherlands, making it the largest Dutch delegation to the Gay Games so far. It reflects the growing enthusiasm for inclusive sport and the collective efforts of organisations and volunteers to bring the delegation together.
The large number of athletes reflects the Netherlands’ commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect. 'We consider the Gay Games a unique platform to raise awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community’s talent, resilience and contribution to sport and culture', according to Ambassador Roel Nieuwenkamp at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Madrid.
From left to right: Jan Schneider - Co-President Federation of Gay Games David Gomez- CEO Valencia Gay Games 2026 Jan Pieter de Lugt - voorzitter Stichting Pride and Sports Sophia Rodriguez - Co-President Federation of Gay Games Jon Landa Diestro - Promotion & International Affairs Valencia Gay Games 2026
We don't just change the culture of sport, we change lives
Jan Pieter de Lugt - Chairman Pride and Sports
United through sport
Pride and Sports is the driving force behind Team Netherlands. The organisation is the leading platform in the Netherlands for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport and an official and key partner of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). On 26 January 2026, the organisation proudly announced that they had assembled a unified team from local sports groups, clubs and individual athletes for the Gay Games in València, which also includes a powerful strategic partnership deal with Nike.
For the first time, they took Dutch participation from a loose cluster of individuals to a professional, cohesive movement. 'In València, we are not just building a sports team, we are building a visible international movement to give our community a significant boost', says Jan Pieter de Lugt, Chairman of Pride and Sports.
The organisation has been bringing together a wide range of sports and athletes since 2017. For example, through an extensive sports programme during Queer & Pride Amsterdam, featuring events such as Pride Run, Pedal for Pride and Urban Sports Jams.
But Pride and Sports’ actions exceed sporting ambitions. They are also committed to breaking down financial barriers to participation in sport. The Queer Champions Fund plays an important role in this. The fund provides financial support for, amongst other things, contributions towards participation fees for national and international tournaments such as the EuroGames and the Gay Games. This helps ensure talented athletes can take part and inspire others, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, cultural background or financial circumstances.
Furthermore, the organisation focuses on raising awareness across the sporting sector and beyond. The organisation has a wealth of (scientific) knowledge and personal accounts on LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and sport. They incorporate this in a wide range of online training courses featuring toolkits designed to encourage behavioural change to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, Pride and Sports applies its managerial expertise to make the wider sporting environment in the Netherlands safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ athletes.
Creating inclusive sporting environments
In the Netherlands, we advocate a safe and inclusive society. To us, openness and inclusion are not just ideals; they are part of everyday life and require continuous efforts from the community, from grassroots to the international stage. Our participation in international events such as the Gay Games and WorldPride Amsterdam reflects the Netherlands' longstanding commitment to openness, inclusion and equal opportunities. By supporting organisations such as Pride and Sports, we help create environments where everyone can participate and feel welcome, on and off the field. By empowering organisations, such as Pride and Sports, build initiatives such as Team Netherlands and share their expertise, we continue to support gender and LGBTQIA+ equality both at home and abroad. Sport should never, ever be a place of exclusion. De Lugt concludes: 'When we intentionally create environments where people feel safe and truly welcome, we don't just change the culture of sport, we change lives'.
The countdown is on!
