Swedish sports minister to open Stockholm Pride

By Celine Casey • July 3, 2007 - 17:16

“To feel that you can't practice your sport because of your ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation does not belong in our society,“ said Ms Adelsohn Liljeroth.

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Sweden's largest gay festival will kick off at the end of the month.

Stockholm Pride will be celebrated with a sports theme this year, hosted by the Swedish minister for culture and sports, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.

Famous for the colours of the rainbow that grace the city each year at this time, Stockholm is a welcoming place for all LGBT.

The celebration of Pride is one of the most colourful events in the Scandinavian capital.

"I was very glad when I received the invitation and the idea to turn it down simply did not exist", said Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.

This year's Pride will be marked with debates and seminars, a sports events and charity games in a bid to question homophobia and transphobia within the world of sport.

"Sport is something that should unite - not separate. That is why I think the theme of the festival is very timely," the minister said.

In comparison to other areas like politics and the entertainment industry where gay stars are very prominent and open about their sexuality, sport is different.

By focusing on this theme, Stockholm Pride wil draw attention at homophobia in the sports arena and question just how accessible the leisure world is to transgendered people.

"To feel that you can't practice your sport because of your ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation does not belong in our society," said Ms Adelsohn Liljeroth.

Stockholm Pride runs from the 30th July until August 5th.

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