Wind turbines light up in LGBTI+ colours to honour WorldPride & EuroGames
August 13, 2021
Described as the "world’s most significant LGBTI+ event of 2021", Copenhagen 2021 - WorldPride and Euro Games began yesterday and will run through 22 August in Copenhagen and Malmö. The Games include a schedule of more than 1,000 events spanning sport, human rights, culture and Pride over the 11 days in a global celebration of equality and diversity.
HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark, as Patron of Copenhagen 2021, will speak at several events including the Human Rights Conference where up to 1,000 activists and policy makers will discuss LGBTI+ equality and goals for the next decade.
To honor the occasion, energy company and Official Partner Ørsted lit up three wind turbines in rainbow colours in Copenhagen to promote diversity and inclusion. They will be lit up every day from through 22 August from 20:00 to 06:00 CEST.
“We are determined, and we are optimistic, that we will give hope for the future for LGBTI+ people everywhere, ensuring that these eleven days will have an impact for many years ahead,” said Lars Henriksen, Chair of Copenhagen Pride which holds the license for WorldPride.
2,000 athletes from more than 50 countries will compete in EuroGames, the LGBTI+ multi-sport event which this year includes tournaments in 22 sports. All its tournaments will include a series for female, male and non-binary identified players, and some team sports may include a league for mixed-gender teams.
Organisers have stated that all events are taking place within the current pandemic guidelines and restrictions, and that it has liaised with municipalities, health authorities and police to ensure events can take place safely.
“The Tokyo Olympics have shown how far we have still to go, and EuroGames in Copenhagen and Malmö will strengthen our determination and our demand for a place for every LGBTI+ person in sport,” said Christian Bigom, Chair of Pan Idræt which holds the license for EuroGames.
Copenhagen 2021 has numerous convenings addressing human rights laws and policies: more than 250 scholarship recipients will participate from countries where LGBTI+ equality is far behind the Scandinavian nations; the President of Iceland, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, the UN High Commissioners for Refugees and Human Rights and many other political and civil society leaders are speaking; at Christiansborg, 150 parliamentarians will take part in an Assembly to discuss global LGBTI+ equality and to sign the Øresund Declaration of goals for equality by 2030; and, in Malmö, the Refugees, Borders & Immigration Summit will consider how LGBTI+ migrants can be better protected and served.
At Gammel Strand, Fluid Festival brings a program celebrating women, genderqueer and non-binary people with a blend of performances, speeches, talks and space to relax and socialise. Huset KBH becomes a space for young LGBTI+ people, while Rainbow Children @ BLOX provides space for younger children and their families.
EuroGames will be handed off to Nijmegen for 2022, EuroPride to Belgrade for 2022 and WorldPride to Sydney for 2023.