Australians going to Gay Games Valencia ESP 2026

Starts Saturday

The Gay Games take place every four years in a different city and essentially serve as the Olympics for LGBTQ+ athletes: https://bbc.in/4xBQ0kz

GAY GAMES SEND-OFF | TEAM SYDNEY
Join us as we celebrate and farewell Team Sydney athletes, participants and community members heading to the Gay Games XII in Valencia, Spain.

Following BERO TALKS: FIT 'N' PROUD, attendees are invited to stay for a special Gay Games Send-Off recognising the athletes and community members who will proudly represent Sydney and Australia on the world stage.

This is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate participation, visibility and inclusion in sport, and wish our competitors well before they depart for Valencia.

Before the send-off, join us for BERO TALKS: FIT 'N' PROUD - a special Pride Month conversation presented by Pride in Sport and Beresford Sundays exploring LGBTQIA+ inclusion, visibility, resilience and belonging in Australian sport.

Featuring:

• Ian Thorpe AM
• Ellia Green OAM
• Michael O'Donnell
• Hayley Conway

Plus special guests to be announced.

📍 Upstairs Beresford

📅 Sunday 14 June

🕓 Doors Open: 3:30pm

🎤 BERO TALKS: FIT 'N' PROUD: 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Gay Games Send-Off & Community Mixer: 5:00pm – 7:00pm

This is a free community event.

Register your spot via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bero-talks-fit-n-proud-tickets-1991060959929?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Come celebrate the athletes, hear their stories and help send Team Sydney to Valencia with the support of the community behind them.

All folk registered, over 600 in Australia and 10,000 globally will receive an invite to participate in the first event of GG Valencia…..International Rainbow Memorial Run to be held on Turia riverbed, 8.30am check in on Saturday 27 June. The event is to honour those passed who attended and contributed to prior games. It includes an easy 3k run/walk…..

Frontrunners are especially welcome! There is a limit of 300 spots.

Watch out for your invite email. A simple registration is required for this free event.

Runners attending Valencia - here is the IFR programme - more details on Valencia or IFR websites

Learn the times of day in Spanish and speak naturally! 🇪🇸✨

- Venue locations

GGVLC26 Venues - Google My Maps Venues for Gay Games XII València 2026

Spain has been ranked the best country in Europe for LGBTQ+ rights, ending Malta’s 10-year run at the top of the annual Rainbow Map - with the UK placed 22nd in the latest league table.

▶️ https://www.scenemag.co.uk/spain-tops-europes-lgbtq-rights-ranking-as-maltas-decade-long-lead-ends-with-uk-22nd/

20 Topics in Spanish 🔮 go.idiomary.com/r3y7m