ENGSO Youth at the IGLYO International Youth Conference on LGBTQI Inclusion in Sports
ENGSO Youth Vice Chair Luca Wernert and former Young Delegate Cedric Vermeiren represented ENGSO Youth at the IGLYO International Youth Conference on LGBTQI Inclusion in Sports, held in Brussels, Belgium, from 26 to 31 October 2025.
Throughout the week, they took part in a variety of workshops and presentations that deepened their understanding of the LGBTQI+ landscape within the European sports context.
ENGSO Youth Vice Chair, Luca Wernert, together with Hugh Torrance from EGLSF (ENGSO associated member), delivered an inspiring presentation highlighting that safe spaces for young queer people in sport must be fostered, among other ways, by meaningfully and sustainably involving them in decision-making processes. Later he joined a panel discussion during the official launch of IGLYO’s new research report. The event provided an engaging evening filled with fresh insights and meaningful conversations.
Participants were introduced to the EU and Council of Europe frameworks on LGBTQI and youth rights and inclusion. Researcher Simon Carpentier then presented IGLYO’s report “From the Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport.” He shared valuable insights into the research process and its key findings, which participants later reflected on and applied to their own community contexts.
Later in the week, attendees focused on putting their newly gained knowledge into practice by developing action plans for their respective sports clubs, organizations, or projects. This session encouraged the exchange of good practices and helped transform reflections into concrete actions.
The conference concluded with a powerful discussion on intersectionality, where participants shared personal experiences and knowledge around the connections between LGBTQI+ identity and factors such as disability, ethnicity, skin color, age, religion, and health. The exchange served as a strong reminder of the importance of inclusion in all its forms.
After the event Cedric Vermeiren highlighted: “This week reminded me that inclusion is not just about being welcomed. It’s about being seen, heard, and valued for who you truly are. Every conversation, every shared story and every connection made me realize how sport can be a powerful platform for change. We are stronger together, and it’s up to all of us to make inclusion not just a goal, but a lived reality.”
IGLYO’s Conference served as the launching event of their latest report “From the Sidelines to the Playing Field: LGBTQI Youth Perspectives on Inclusion in School and Community Sport.” Explore the report here.