Jess Fishlock: The Welsh football great is ‘honoured’ to be a EuroGames ambassador

EuroGames was founded in the early 1990s after the Second World Gay Games in San Francisco in 1986, as an accessible event for LGBTQ+ Europeans.

Manchester was scheduled to host the 1999 edition, but it was canceled amid financial problems, and Birmingham and London had previously submitted bids to host the tournament.

“What’s not fun about these events?” Fishlock said. “They can be very open and caring.

“Sports are a gateway to amazing life experiences. You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy it.”

The EuroGames is run independently by the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation and follows its own rules regarding participation, meaning that transgender people can compete in the category that corresponds to their live gender.

Several national and international sports governing bodies have banned transgender women from competing in women’s categories amid concerns about fairness and safety.

Some were moved after the Supreme Court ruled last year that the legal definition of women was based on biological sex.

Fishlock hopes EuroGames will help combat the “stigma” surrounding trans people in sport.

“This is a big part of the European Games,” she said. “It’s hard to really address the situation without getting into politics, which is difficult for a lot of people.

“The stigma makes it difficult, so hopefully we can get rid of some of the fear that breeds hate.

“It’s a polarizing topic, but hopefully by bringing it to Wales we can spread visibility and education.”

A EuroGames spokesperson told the BBC that sporting conversations were ongoing with the Welsh Government on the matter, while saying they fully supported trans athletes competing in events in line with their gender identity.

“Sports and physical activity should be for everyone,” they said. “We want to make EuroGames accessible to everyone, including direct allies. The only way to fight hate is with love.”