FSGL extraordinary general assembly approves new initiatives

Christelle Foucault, president of the FSGL, presenting projects for 2012-2013 (photo Marc Naimark)

After the annual general assembly held in late 2011, the Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne (FSGL), the French national LGBT sports federation, held an extraordinary general assembly on 25 February 2012, hosted by the city hall of the 19th Arrondissement.

Among the points on the agenda were a series of modifications and additions to the federation's bylaws and rules, aimed at bringing the federation into compliance with the requirements of nationally recognized affinity federations. Such federations, like national sports federations (French tennis federation, French football federation, etc.) benefit from a variety of measures and programs run by the ministry of sport, and become in integral part of the national sport system. The project is moving forward, with a first meeting held with the legal department of the ministry to review the status of the (very complex) application file.

Among the other initiatives approved was to join the Agence pour l'éducation par le sport (APELS), a public-private entity that finances and supports programs for social progress via sport. FSLG member clubs are invited to apply so as to support and share the various projects they carry out.

While planning for an expanded TIP Paris International Tournament continues apace, with the creation of a sports village open during the entire tournament, the FSGL hasn't forgotten 2013, which will be the 10th anniversary of the multisport tournament. Among the initiatives imagined is a concerted effort to open the tournament to disabled athletes, in partnership with the French disabled sport federation.

(photo Cyril Leroy)

Also planned for 2012-2013 is the creation of a "respect award", in collaboration with other partners involved in the ministry of sport's programs against discrimination in sport, and a series of events organized by associations and government authorities throughout France to fight homophobia, in particular in and by sport. A high point will be the FSGL's participation in the upcoming "Sport and HIV" event at the headquarters of the French National Olympic Committee.

After the election of a new deputy treasurer and a new first male vice president (FSGL bylaws require that the president and first vice president not be of the same gender), the Assembly closed with a vote to back a bid for Gay Games X in 2018.