Bringing LGBTQ+ Sport Together

Bringing a community together

Out for Sport was founded following the Gay Games V in Amsterdam in 1998. The aim was clear: to bring together London’s LGBT sports clubs and encourage greater participation in sport across the community.

The driving force behind the organisation was Ivan Bussens, a member of Out To Swim. He recognised the need for a grassroots body that could connect teams, share knowledge and help clubs grow. From the outset, the organisation positioned itself as a unifying voice for LGBT sport in London, built by clubs and for clubs.

The first multi-sport event

In spring 1999, six of London’s LGBT sports clubs came together to organise the UK’s first LGBT multi-sport event, “Out For Sport 1999”, at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace.

The event featured sports including swimming, squash, basketball, football and athletics, and attracted participants from across London, the UK and Europe, demonstrating the strength and potential of collaboration within the LGBT sports community.

Visibility through Pride and the millennium

In 2000, Out For Sport helped promote the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s Gaysports Festival 2000, part of a wider programme of Millennium celebrations across the capital. The organisation also established a visible presence at London Pride, helping raise awareness of LGBT sport and reaching new audiences.

Building identity on the world stage

Through the early 2000s, the organisation played a key role in connecting participants attending the Gay Games. For the 2002 and 2006 Games, Out For Sport coordinated a unified team kit, enabling athletes from London and across the UK to march together in the Opening Ceremony. This helped build a shared identity and strengthen links between clubs on an international stage.

Taking a seat at the global table

In late 2004, Out For Sport was recognised as a Director Organisation of the Federation of Gay Games, giving it a formal role within the governance of the international movement. Its representatives, Ivan Bussens and Sion O’Connor, contributed to the development of LGBT sport globally.

Around the same time, Ivan Bussens also supported the London Olympic Games bid as an LGBT Ambassador, helping to connect the bid with the community.

Building bridges across the movement

In 2005, Out For Sport hosted the Building Bridges conference, bringing together representatives from the Federation of Gay Games, GLISA, EGLSF and other stakeholders. The event provided a forum for dialogue at a time of division within the international LGBT sports movement, demonstrating the organisation’s leadership role in shaping its future direction.

Over the following years, the organisation continued to support member clubs through fundraising, advice and access to funding, including through initiatives such as Awards for All, while also contributing to wider charitable causes like Body Positive and Sport Relief.

Following the death of Ivan Bussens in 2007, the organisation entered a quieter period, drawing its first phase to a close.

Revival through the Olympic legacy

Out For Sport was revived in 2012, building on the momentum of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. A key moment in this revival was ‘Out For Sport Week’, held between the Games, where more than 15 clubs hosted over 20 free sports taster sessions, engaging more than 200 participants and re-establishing the organisation’s presence within the community.

Rebuilding ambition and participation

In 2013, Out For Sport introduced its first School Sports Day, offering an accessible and social way for people to engage with sport.

The organisation also supported London’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games through a programme of social and fundraising activity, with delegates travelling to Cleveland, Ohio to support the final presentation. Although the bid was unsuccessful, it highlighted the ambition and strength of London’s LGBT sporting community.

Rebuilding the network

In the years following its revival, the organisation benefited from more sustained leadership and organisational development. Matt Hill, who became co-chair in 2016, played a key role in guiding the organisation through a period of consolidation and renewed ambition, supported by a committed volunteer committee.

This period also saw the significant contribution of co‑chair Vicki Carter, whose leadership helped transform the organisation into a more connected and visible community, supporting growth in participation and strengthening partnerships across London.

A stronger programme takes shape

By 2019, Out For Sport had established a consistent programme of events and support activity. The annual Sports Fair remained a key fixture, while training and development opportunities helped clubs build capacity and improve inclusivity. The organisation demonstrated a growing confidence in its role as a coordinating body for LGBT+ sport in London.

Responding to a global pandemic

In 2020 and 2021, the COVID‑19 pandemic had a significant impact on sport and community activity, with member clubs facing widespread disruption to training, competition and social connection. During this period, Out For Sport adapted its focus, supporting clubs through communication, training and guidance while helping to maintain a sense of connection across the network.

Alongside its core mission to promote participation, the organisation placed greater emphasis on wellbeing, governance and resilience, reflecting a broader role in supporting inclusive sport through a period of uncertainty.

Bidding to bring EuroGames to London

During 2021 and into 2022, Out For Sport led a major bid to bring the EuroGames to the capital in 2025. Working with clubs and partners across the city, the organisation developed and submitted a detailed proposal centred on a community‑led, festival-style event that would showcase London’s inclusive sporting network and world-class venues.

The bid represented a significant collective effort from London’s LGBT+ sports community and marked a strong statement of international ambition following the disruption of the pandemic. In March 2022, after a closely contested vote, the bid was narrowly unsuccessful, with Lyon selected as host city.

Becoming a registered charity

In March 2022, Out For Sport formally became a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), marking a significant milestone in its development. This provided a stronger governance framework and a formal structure to support long-term sustainability and growth.

The transition reflected several years of organisational development and positioned the charity to expand its programme and impact.

A new era of trusteeship

Following its registration as a charity, Out For Sport undertook a major recruitment drive to strengthen its leadership. A new board of eleven trustees was appointed, bringing a wide range of experience across grassroots sport, governance, finance and communications.

This marked a clear step change in organisational capacity, enabling the charity to move beyond consolidation and towards growth, with stronger foundations to support its network of clubs.

Launching the LGBTQ+ Sports Festival

In June 2024, Out For Sport launched its first LGBTQ+ Out For Sport Festival at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Bringing together around 20 inclusive sports clubs offering free taster sessions, the event marked a significant expansion in scale and ambition, creating a new flagship opportunity to engage the community and promote participation in sport.

This milestone coincided with a transition in leadership, as David Lionetti and Suzanna Maas took on the role of co‑chairs in 2024, guiding the organisation into its next phase of development and delivery.

Supporting clubs through change

In 2025, Out For Sport built on the success of its inaugural LGBTQ+ Sports Festival with a second year of delivery at Crystal Palace, again bringing together clubs from across the capital to offer inclusive taster sessions and connect with new participants.

This period marked the first full year under co‑chair leadership, with continued growth in participation and reach. Alongside this, the organisation facilitated discussion between clubs on wider developments affecting inclusive sport, including the implications of the UK Supreme Court ruling and related Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance at its Annual General Meeting.

Looking ahead

In 2026, Out For Sport continues to focus on strengthening its core activities and supporting its network of clubs, building on a period of significant development. Following the transition to new leadership and the delivery of major events, the organisation is focused on consolidating its progress and shaping its future direction.