As part of my continuing series profiling LGBT sports clubs around the world, I’d travelled to Zurich to meet the team from Gay Sport Zurich — the multi-sports umbrella organisation that coordinates sporting life for the gays and lesbians of this vibrant city.
I met with Maggi Kapeller. We caught up for a drink at Barfusser Bar.
Kapeller didn’t speak English and I don’t speak German, but she’d brought along two helpful friends to act as interpreters which worked surprisingly well.
Sitting opposite the three of them our conversation felt a little like an intimidating job interview. A badminton player, Kapeller considered each question carefully, ensuring that her answers were precise and accurate — I wouldn’t like to face her on the badminton court, I imagine she would be a fierce opponent.
When was the Gay Sport Zurich club established?
In 1995 a women’s sports club, Sport Diva, was established. Gay Sport Zurich was established in 1998 as a mixed club, although its members were mainly men.
Sport Diva, for a variety of reasons, stopped activities in 2002. Since then Gay Sport Zurich has been actively encouraging women to join.
The club was established for Gay Games in Amsterdam in 1998. The people of Zurich came together to compete as a combined team for the Gay Games.
What activities does Gay Sport Zurich offer its members?
We now offer seven different sports:
Aerobics
Badminton
Squash
Swimming
Open water swimming
Tennis
Volleyball
We recently trialled triathlon but we found it too complicated to organise the three components required.
How many members do you have?
We have 240 active members and a further 96 members who don’t participate in our sports but are part of the club for social activities.
Our numbers have been stable for the last five years. We continue to actively recruit members and have recently seen a slight increase in members, which have primarily been new women members as this is a group we have been targeting with our recruitment.
There is a base membership fee to belong to the club and then you pay additional sports fee depending on which sport you participate in.
Swimming and badminton are the sports that have the most participants.
What is the gender balance like in the club?
Our members are 75% men and 25% women,
We don’t have any minimum age, but the average is around 35 to 40, with our youngest members being about 16 years old, and our oldest around 70 years old.
Do members of Gay Sport Zurich take part in competitive events?
Yes, we take part in LGBT events such as Eurogames, Gay Games, Outgames, and other international gay competitions.
As a club we don’t participate in any non-LGBT competitions but individually some of our members will compete in local masters events.
What sort of role do the club play in the local community?
We’re currently working with Amnesty International to provide free membership for LGBT asylum seekers from abroad. We also offer a reduction in fees for students.
For Zurich Pride Festival our aerobic group is provides a display and the club marches in the parade as a united club.
What are some of the challenges of running a club like Gay Sport Zurich?
Finding coaches is a big challenge, as all of our coaches are volunteers. It’s also a challenge to continue to keep the club alive and the members active.
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