THE UPCOMING Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will further highlight the importance of inclusion within the Olympic Movement, with “Games wide open”, the Paris 2024 slogan, underlining the organisers’ commitment to the fight against discrimination. To mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May, Paris 2024 announced the creation of the Pride House: a dedicated space at the Games to celebrate LGBTQ+ athletes, entourage members, fans and allies, a media release said.
The Pride House will be at the heart of the Games, located at Parc de la Villette – close to competitions venues such as La Chapelle Arena, Stade de France and La Concorde. Led by the Fier-Play association – a French not-for-profit initiative dedicated to fair play, equality and respect – in partnership with Paris 2024, the Pride House will offer a programme of celebratory, cultural and educational activities focused on inclusive sport.
Its objectives are:
to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community;
to empower athletes;
to celebrate the Games and the performances of LGBTQ+ athletes;
to educate on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in and through sport; and
to build awareness and visibility, leaving a legacy for the international sports movement.
Games for all
To ensure that the message of inclusion and diversity is accessible to all at the Games in 2024, in addition to the permanent Pride House in the centre of Paris a mobile Pride House will pop up around different Games venues and throughout the city, and a digital Pride House will be available on smartphones.
“At Paris 2024, we are convinced that sport changes lives, and that it is also a formidable tool for changing mentalities and contributing to the fight against discrimination,” said Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet on announcing the creation of the Pride House. “As organisers of the world’s biggest sporting event, we have a responsibility, and we also want to take advantage of the visibility of the Games to advance this essential fight.”
The Pride House is just one of the many initiatives embraced by Paris 2024 and its stakeholders in the fight against discrimination, which include the signing of the LBGT+ Commitment Charter by Paris 2024 as an employer, and the work of the Paris 2024 Endowment Fund, which each year supports a number of projects using sport as a tool for inclusion.
