Last Sunday 3,000 athletes left Antwerp after a straightforward closing ceremony, devoid of frivolity, excess or exaggeration. To be more precise: devoid of any online results.
That’s right: five days later the final results of the athletes are nowhere to be found. The official Eurogames website is still appealing for volunteers to register before July 11. By the way: the organizers confirmed that participants who did not receive their medal really will get it, mailed to their home address.
Athletes who preferred to forgo Antwerp’s 3rd rate sport accommodation can look forward to Barcelona’s 2008 breathtaking venues that were used for the Olympics in 1992.
Looking at the big-boy neighbours might be the only antidote for the sheer, unfounded arrogance of this mid-sized town in Europe. Update: 400 Eurogames photos by benidormone at Flickr
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
Peter.. email me.. i have something for you:)
[Comment from the author:"Thanks. I just mailed you. In case anyone would like to get in touch, please use the contact form"]
Comment by M_in_Antwerp — July 20, 2007 @ 12:13 am |
well, I agree, even u try to google for pictures, news coverage NADA
How parochial!! I was even looking at the local papers for the closing events coverage, again NADA. Kim Klijters wedding had more press coverage (luv her to bits!!) Whatever happened to their publicity mill?? Are they stillpartying with the “huge sucess ” of the Antwerp Eurogames, that they forgot to post vaulable information/photos?
They impression am getting is that: They(organizers) wanna say is, Thanks and Goodbye and GET LOST to the participants and the general public.
Another point, how is the financial aspect of the Games? Because most of the Eruogames, Gay Games and OUTGAMES, went RED. I do hope they would be transparent witth this issue, so the gerenal public “can trust” our commuity.
Is this a repeat of the OUTGAMES scandal???? Hope not!!!
Some ppl may ask, why are we asking these question, why are we “bitching”. My personal answer is that: Some or (correct me if am wrong), most of the money that was given to set up the Eurogames is PEOPLE’s hard earn money.. our TAX MONEY
That’s why we are concerned 
Instead of these flambouyant games , why did they not just think of an international congress that Antwerp can host about LGTB rights in the world. More depth, and focus on real issues;-) Then, our community would be more “credible” rather than draag queens and wannabes gyrating to the gerenal publicc disgust. We would be more taken seriously, and real issues will be heard by all. And am sure media will also take us seriously
Comment by M_in_Antwerp — July 20, 2007 @ 12:32 am |
Thanks for commenting M. Like you elaborately pointed out, the Antwerp Eurogames seemed to have “disappeared” as soon as the athletes left…
Tragic.
Comment by Peter - blog author — July 20, 2007 @ 12:56 am |
HI
I come from Germany, Duesseldorf, and the Antwerp EuroGames were my 6th EuoGames.
I am a former boardmember of EGLSF, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, which is kind
of the mother of the EuroGames and overall responsible for the organisation of the games.
As an athlete participating in the swimming competition of the Antwerp EuroGames, I would like
to congratulate the organisers to a very friendly, well organised and professional competition.
The venue was great, the atmosphere, too, and everything worked out fine.
Further, registration went very smoothly (no queues, friendly people, good venue) and the opening ceremony
was great, too. From a lesbian’s point of view, they could have skipped the drag queens and shortened it
a little bit, but hey, the feeling of being with all these people on that big square, singing and celebrating
was just great.
I really did not like the party on saturday. Sorry, what was that? Trying to fit 4000 people into one venue, full stop.
I mean, athlethes wanna meet other athletes after two hard days of getting up early, swimming, running, dancing,
whatever, sit down (!), have a drink and exchange experiences. 4000 people might not all have the same taste of
music, but might have the whish to get a cold (!) drink within reasonable (!) time. Well, I am 34 years old,
like techno music and I am not the kind who likes women-only parties. But this party just doesn’t deserve any
applause.
The whole event? Well, I am happy that I found this blog to finally hear / read some critical voices and comments and
fotos (except flickr). One day I accidentally stepped into the press center. Tiny, poor, nobody there.
I know, there was a conference on homophobia in sports organised by EGLSF, but I did not hear much about it.
Media coverage in general is very poor, and the EuroGames website is extremely poor at the moment.
No information on results can be found anywhere, everybody just seems to be in a coma. EUroGames is about sports
in the first place, and sports is about participation and results. I am really disappointed that this is not
shown anywhere. All we see is (wannabe) glamorous people on stage.
Comment by claribu — July 20, 2007 @ 10:42 am |
Claribu, thank you for posting your much appreciated comment on the Antwerp games as a former boardmember of EGLSF, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation.
Like you pointed out (and like me, many other participants did) the organization totally failed to deliver when it came to presenting what it was all about: sports.
Knowing the people who are behind the organisation of the Antwerp Eurogames (you can find them here: http://2007.eurogames.info/index.php?pid=106) I’m not surprised at all.
Comment by Peter - blog author — July 20, 2007 @ 11:47 am |
Hello
Well, about the party: everyone has a different taste.
About media coverage: there was quite a bit coverage in Dutch, also about the homophobia in sports. But internationally it seems quite quiet. But you’re rigt when you state that almost nothing was was written about the sports (results, participants, performances). But media coverage poor? I disagree, in Flanders is was quite well followed (thanks to slow news period). Certainly in mainstream media.
We’ll see how it evolves.
Comment by 001 — July 20, 2007 @ 1:19 pm |
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