Bern Prepares for EuroGames 2023 and Its First Pride Celebration
Thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes are already preparing to converge on Bern, the capital of Switzerland, for the EuroGames from July 26 – 29, 2023. This will be the second time Switzerland will host the Games since Zurich hosted the multi-sport event in 2000.
Organizers expect approximately 5,000 people to visit for the annual biannual event created to provide a safe space for everyone – regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and skill level – even though it is primarily geared towards LGBTQ+ athletes.
The not-for-profit EuroGames Bern is preparing to welcome athletes and spectators to the EuroGames Village, which will be located in the heart of Bern Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to a regular monthly update early last month, 623 athletes from 44 nations have already registered for the EuroGames with the top five countries with the most registrations hailing from Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The youngest registered athlete is 18 years old and the oldest is 85!
Athletes can register as individuals or register as a team for team sports, such as basketball, football (soccer), and rugby. Sports getting the most registrants right now are badminton, PrideRun 5K/10K, swimming, volleyball, and tennis. And the EuroGames 2023 will also debut a few new sports, including timed hiking. Unlike the Olympics, every competitor or participant at the Games will receive an award for participating.
In addition to hosting sports competitions and activities for the EuroGames, Bern will host the city’s first Pride celebration following the sports event’s closing ceremony. Organizers are expecting a total of 10,000 people to attend and hoping to make BernPride an annual event in Bern.
If you’re interested in flexing your athletic prowess at the EuroGames 2023 in Bern, you can register here and you can get more information about this inclusive multi-sport event and Pride celebration by visiting the website: https://eurogames2023.ch.
A trip to Bern before, during, or after the EuroGames is recommended. Stroll the streets to get a look at some of the city’s top attractions, including the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) to see the mechanical spectacle every hour, the 15th-century medieval Münster church, the Rosengarten with a view of the Aare River, and The Federal Palace where both chambers voted for marriage equality in 2020. Visit the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) before March 19, 2023, to catch the “Queer – Diversity is in Our Nature” exhibition where you can learn how living creatures and animals can easily change their gender, such as the clown fish.
And don’t forget to grab lunch or dinner at Restaurant Falken, a popular spot among tourists and locals. Need help planning your trip to Bern? Pink Alpine can help arrange your LGBTQ+-friendly trip to Bern and other popular cities in Switzerland.
